How is V-tach characterized?

Ventricular tachycardia is characterized as a wide complex tachyarrhythmia. It is classified by duration as non-sustained or sustained. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia lasts less than 30 seconds and presents with tachyarrhythmia with more than 3 beats of ventricular origin.

What does ventricular tachycardia look like on an ECG?

How can you tell the difference between V-tach and VFIB?

The difference between the two is that in ventricular tachycardia, the lower chambers of the heart are beating much faster than they should but the overall process is happening in the right order. In ventricular fibrillation, the heart’s beating process isn’t happening in the right order.

Does V-tach have P waves?

TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA. VT is recognized by abnormally wide and bizarre QRS complex morphology. P waves are present but may be hiding in the QRS-T complexes. AV dissociation occurs due to the accelerated ventricular rate as compared to the sinus rate.

How many beats of V-tach is significant?

VT is defined as 3 or more heartbeats in a row, at a rate of more than 100 beats a minute. If VT lasts for more than a few seconds at a time, it can become life-threatening. Sustained VT is when the arrhythmia lasts for more than 30 seconds. Or when it’s linked to a blood flow issue, such as abnormal blood pressure.

Does V-tach have a QRS?

Ventricular tachycardia refers to a wide QRS complex heart rhythm — that is, a QRS duration beyond 120 milliseconds — originating in the ventricles at a rate of greater than 100 beats per minute.

What is the most common cause of V-tach?

In most people, ventricular tachycardia develops as a result of other heart problems such as high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), heart valve disease or coronary artery disease. If you’ve had a heart attack or heart surgery, scar tissue on your heart can contribute to ventricular tachycardia.

Is V-tach regular or irregular?

Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is usually regular; that is, it is associated with constant R-R intervals. In several cases, however, the cycles of ventricular tachycardia are more or less variable.

What electrolyte imbalance causes ventricular tachycardia?

It is well known that changes in serum potassium cause ventricular arrhythmias as a result of clearly documented changes in the electrophysiological characteristics of single fibers.

How do you read PVC on ECG?

What is the most common cause of ventricular tachycardia?

Ventricular tachycardia most often occurs when the heart muscle has been damaged and scar tissue creates abnormal electrical pathways in the ventricles. Causes include: Heart attack. Cardiomyopathy or heart failure.

How do you identify a VF?

ECG Findings
  1. Fibrillation waves of varying amplitude and shape.
  2. No identifiable P waves, QRS complexes, or T waves.
  3. Heart rate anywhere between 150 to 500 per minute.

Which ECG findings are seen in pulseless ventricular tachycardia?

Findings on an ECG suggestive or diagnostic of Pulseless ventricular tachycardia include regular R-R intervals, rapid ventricular rate with an indistinguishable atrial rate (absence of p-waves), Av dissociation, and a wide QRS complex (more 0.12 sec).

What is the first line treatment for ventricular tachycardia?

Anti-arrhythmic medications are the first-line therapy in emergency departments and CCUs, as discussed earlier. Amiodarone is most commonly used, along with lidocaine, and in some cases procainamide.

Which is worse a fib or V tach?

While not as common as AFib, ventricular fibrillation is more deadly. It can cause sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death, the leading killer in the U.S.

How do you treat v tach with pulse?

In a pulseless patient, begin immediate CPR and attach AED or external defibrillator. If Vtach or Vfib, prepare for defibrillation. If pulse is present, attach EKG or defibrillator and evaluate rhythm. If patient is unstable and not polymorphic Vtach, prepare for synchronized cardoversion.

What electrolytes can cause ventricular tachycardia?

Substances
  • Sodium.
  • Magnesium.
  • Potassium.
  • Calcium.

Does VT always require immediate cardioversion?

VT associated with loss of consciousness or hypotension is a medical emergency necessitating immediate cardioversion. In a normal-sized adult, this is typically accomplished with a 100- to 200-J biphasic cardioversion shock administered according to standard Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) protocols.

Can anxiety cause Vtach?

Emotional stressors can lead to ventricular ectopic beats and ventricular tachycardia. Though disturbances of cardiac rhythm due to emotional stress are often transient, sometimes the consequences can be seriously damaging and even fatal [11].

Who is at risk for ventricular tachycardia?

The condition most commonly affects people who have heart disorders, such as coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. A heart rhythm is considered ventricular tachycardia if it has more than 100 beats per minute with at least three ventricular heartbeats in a row.

Which classification of drug is used to treat ventricular tachycardia?

Flecainide (Tambocor)

Flecainide is a class IC antiarrhythmic approved for treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Does a pacemaker help ventricular tachycardia?

Implanted pacemakers can provide a viable alternative to pharmacologic therapy or surgical management of patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia. An increasing variety of pacemaker techniques are proving useful for preventing, controlling the effective rate of or terminating ventricular tachycardia.

What medications cause ventricular tachycardia?

The following drug classes may cause monomorphic ventricular tachycardia: anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, anticancer drugs, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, anti-manic medications, antiplatelet, antipsychotic, beta agonists, ergot derivatives, herbs, cocaine, inotropes, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, sympathomimetics, …