François Dessertenne (1917–2006) was a French

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

who first described the special type of

Ventricular tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT) is a fast heart rate arising from the lower chambers of the heart. Although a few seconds of VT may not result in permanent problems, longer periods are dangerous; and multiple episodes over a short period ...

in 1966 known as

Torsades de pointes ''Torsades de pointes, torsade de pointes'' or ''torsades des pointes'' (TdP) (, , translated as "twisting of peaks") is a specific type of abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to sudden cardiac death. It is a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia t ...

. In 1948, Dessertenne became the Assistant Professor of Medicine at Hôpital Lariboisière in France, assisting to Prof Yves Bouvrain (1910-2002).

References

* Dessertenne F. ''Ventricular tachycardia with two variable opposing foci''. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 1966;59:263-72. . Desertenne, Francois 1917 births 2006 deaths {{France-scientist-stub