Near-fatal incident on routine induction of ventricular fibrillation at the replacement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

The case of a 54-year-old patient with severe coronary artery disease and storms of ventricular tachyarrhythmias is presented. On the replacement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator due to battery depletion, he suffered life-threatening complications associated with arrhythmia induction. Performing a routine induction of ventricular arrhythmias on the occasion of pulse generator replacement may be reconsidered in selected patients.