General Cardiology Part 5
Question 10/36
When can sustained ventricular tachycardia be treated medically and when does it require emergent direct current cardioversion?
Question 10/36
When can sustained ventricular tachycardia be treated medically and when does it require emergent direct current cardioversion?
Ventricular tachycardia can be a fatal arrhythmia, however at times it can be tolerated quite well hemodynamically. This usually occurs in the ventricular rate is > 150 beats per minute. The reasons to emergently cardiovert a patient with ventricular tachycardia would be:
- Altered consciousness
- Severe hypotension
- Chest pains
- Signs of shock
- If the ventricular tachycardia is hemodynamically stable without the above signs/symptoms, then amiodarone can be given intravenously. Lidocaine is acceptable as well.