Ventricular tachycardia, including pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, requires immediate resuscitation. Patients with unstable sustained ventricular tachycardia, showing signs of hypotension or reduced cardiac output, should undergo direct current cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm. If cardioversion fails, intravenous amiodarone hydrochloride is administered, followed by repeated cardioversion attempts.
Treatments
Resuscitation (for pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation)
Direct current cardioversion
Intravenous anti-arrhythmic drugs (amiodarone hydrochloride, flecainide acetate, propafenone hydrochloride, lidocaine hydrochloride)Beta-blockers (for non-sustained ventricular tachycardia)
Implantable cardioverter defibrillatorCatheter ablation (if needed)Referral to a specialist
Torsades De Pointes
Torsade de pointes is a type of ventricular tachycardia associated with a long QT syndrome. It is often drug-induced, but other factors such as hypokalemia, severe bradycardia, and genetic predisposition can also contribute.