Free fatty acids and arrhythmias following acute coronary artery occlusion in pigs

Abstract
The arrhythmogenic potential of elevated serum free fatty acids (FFA) was investigated in closed-chest pigs following acute coronary artery occlusion. Animals both with and without ventricular irritability before the FFA rise were studied. No significant increase in PVC [premature ventricular contraction] frequency occurred and only 1 out of 17 animals developed ventricular fibrillation in the 60 min following acute FFA elevation. FFA did not significantly influence the appearance of arrhythmias.