Late ventricular dysrhythmias after myocardial infarction.

Serious ventricular dysrhythmias occurred in hospital after discharge from a coronary intensive care unit in 11 out of 142 patients with myocardial infarction. Previous rhythm changes, hypotension, and left ventricular failure were common findings; only one of these patients had an uneventful previous course. Four patients were resuscitated and left hospital; six were resuscitated but died at varying periods up to eight days after the event; one patient could not be resuscitated. Recent coronary occlusion or further myocardial infarction was demonstrated in 7 of these 11 patients and presumably accounted for the dysrhythmia.