Ventricular fibrillation in a medically supervised cardiac exercise program. Clinical, angiographic, and surgical correlations.

Five patients with ischemic heart disease were resuscitated after experiencing ventricular fibrillation in a medically supervised exercise program. Four subsequently had successful myocardial revascularization (three prior to hospital discharge), and three have returned to an exercise prescription of reduced intensity. Multivessel operative coronary disease is common in patients experiencing ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation may occur unpredictably (two to 48 months) in duration of exercise. Exercise fitness centers for such patients should be medically supervised and equipped with a defibrillator and appropriate drugs.