Case 2: Energy Drink-Induced Ventricular Tachycardia

A 15-year-old girl consumed three cans of 250 mL Red Bull and 4 h later she experienced agitation, irritability, headache, palpitations, and syncope. She was transported by the ambulance to the Emergency Department, where no arrhythmia was found, except for a sinus tachycardia of 120 beats per minute. She was monitored using a Holter ECG and reported a single episode of tachycardia, which was comparable to the episode preceding syncope but of shorter duration, occurring at 3:27 a.m. after returning from the bathroom. This nocturnal arrhythmia caused dizziness but not fainting (Figs. 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8 and 8.9).