Ventricular tachycardia
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Ventricular Tachycardia: A Dangerous Cardiac Arrhythmia
Introduction
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia characterised by rapid, regular electrical activity originating from the ventricles, which are the heart's lower chambers.
Key Features of Ventricular Tachycardia
1. Irregular Rhythm
Ventricular tachycardia typically exhibits an irregular rhythm with consistent intervals between consecutive QRS complexes or the RR interval.
2. Rapid Heart Rate
The heart rate in ventricular tachycardia is typically between 100 and 250 beats per minute.
3. Wide QRS Complexes
In VT, the QRS complex duration is usually prolonged, typically greater than 0.12 seconds, reflecting abnormal ventricular depolarisation originating from the ventricles rather than the atria.
4. Absent P Waves
P waves are usually absent or difficult to identify in ventricular tachycardia due to the rapid ventricular activation obscuring atrial activity.
5. Morphology
The QRS complex morphology in VT can vary, often appearing bizarre or markedly different from the patient's usual QRS complex. It can have a monomorphic appearance with uniform QRS complexes or a polymorphic appearance with varying QRS complexes, depending on the specific type of VT.
6. AV Dissociation
In some cases of ventricular tachycardia, the atria and ventricles beat independently of each other, resulting in atrioventricular dissociation. This can be observed on the ECG as P waves that are not associated with the QRS complexes.
Importance of Accurate Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia is critical as it is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt medical intervention to stabilise the patient and manage the underlying cause.
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