Pheochromocytoma as a rare cause of ventricular fibrillation

This case report describes a rare cause of refractory ventricular fibrillation which was identified as a clinical manifestation of pheochromocytoma. It illustrates the pitfalls of diagnostics and surgical treatment of pheochromocytoma and the dilemma whether to implant in such patient an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Although the cause of cardiac arrest accompanying pheochromocytoma could be considered reversible, implantation was performed in this case due to presumed ventricular substrate with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and with the prospect of potential recurrence of pheochromocytoma after surgery. To our best knowledge, only a few case studies of pheochromocytoma presenting with ventricular tachycardia have been reported. However, none of the published cases required prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to refractory ventricular fibrillation.