Last reviewed: 30 Sep 2022
Last updated: 18 Oct 2019
Summary
A ventricular rhythm faster than 100 bpm lasting at least 30 seconds or requiring termination due to hemodynamic instability.
ECG findings include wide QRS complex (duration >120 milliseconds) at a rate greater than 100 bpm.
Patients may have a normal cardiac output or may be hemodynamically compromised during episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Presence or absence of symptoms does not differentiate VT from supraventricular tachycardia.
Torsades de pointes: polymorphic VT with a characteristic twisting morphology occurring in the setting of QT interval prolongation.
Sustained VT is usually observed in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy, but idiopathic VT may also be observed in patients without structural heart disease.
Among patients with prior myocardial infarction or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, VT is usually due to reentry involving regions of slowed conduction adjacent to scar.
Owing to the unpredictable and life-threatening nature of most etiologies of sustained VT, prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation is recommended in high-risk patients.
Definition
Sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a ventricular rhythm faster than 100 bpm lasting at least 30 seconds or requiring termination earlier due to hemodynamic instability. VT is defined as a wide complex tachycardia (QRS 120 milliseconds or greater) that originates from one of the ventricles, and is not due to aberrant conduction (e.g., from
bundle branch block), at a rate of 100 bpm or greater. "Idiopathic" VT occurs in the absence of apparent structural heart disease (e.g., prior myocardial infarction, active ischemia, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, left ventricular noncompaction, or other disorders of the myocardium), known channelopathy (e.g., long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic VT, short QT syndrome), drug toxicity, or electrolyte imbalance. VT
can be described as monomorphic or polymorphic. Torsades de pointes is a polymorphic VT with a characteristic twisting morphology occurring in the setting of QT interval prolongation. Sustained VT usually results in hypotension and symptoms of weakness, syncope, or palpitations; however, the arrhythmia may be present in patients who are asymptomatic and normotensive.[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image
starts]: Sustained (monomorphic) ventricular tachycardiaFrom the collection of Prof Sei Iwai; used with permission [Citation ends].
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- coronary artery disease
- tachycardia
- hypotension
More key diagnostic factors
Other diagnostic factors
- weak pulse
- syncope
- presyncope
- airway compromise
- impaired consciousness
- lightheadedness
- dizziness
- diminished responsiveness
- chest discomfort
- dyspnea
- asymptomatic
Other diagnostic factors
Risk factors
- coronary artery disease
- acute myocardial infarction
- left ventricular systolic dysfunction
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- long QT syndrome
- short QT syndrome
- Brugada syndrome
- family history of sudden death
- mental or physical stress
- ventricular pre-excitation
- arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
- electrolyte imbalance
- drug toxicity
- Chagas disease and other cardiomyopathies
More risk factors
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- ECG
- electrolytes
- troponin I
- creatine kinase-MB
More 1st investigations to order
Investigations to consider
- transthoracic echocardiogram
- cardiac catheterization
- cardiac MRI
- electrophysiologic study
- genetic screening
More investigations to consider
Treatment algorithm
hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
torsades de pointes
catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
hemodynamically stable nonidiopathic sustained ventricular tachycardia
hemodynamically stable idiopathic sustained ventricular tachycardia
nonidiopathic: at high risk for ventricular tachycardia or history of sustained ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest without identifiable reversible cause
idiopathic ventricular tachycardia
Contributors
Authors
Sei Iwai, MD, FACC, FHRS
Professor of Clinical Medicine
New York Medical College
Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology
Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Valhalla
NY
DisclosuresSI is on the Biosense-Webster speakers' bureau. He receives honoraria from Biotronik, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic for lectures, and research grant support from Boston Scientific.
Acknowledgements
Prof Sei Iwai would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Kenneth Stein and Dr Richard Keating, previous contributors to this topic.
DisclosuresKS declares he is an employee of and shareholder in Boston Scientific, a manufacturer of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and ablation catheters. RK declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Suneet Mittal, MD
Director
Electrophysiology Laboratory
The St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
New York
NY
DisclosuresSM declares that he has no competing interests.
Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD
Kontos Professor of Cardiology
Medical College of Virginia
Richmond
VA
DisclosuresKAE declares that he has no competing interests.
Kim Rajappan, MA, MD, MRCP
Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
Cardiac Department
John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford
UK
DisclosuresKR declares that she has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy
- Supraventricular tachycardia with preexcitation
- Electrical artifact
More Differentials
Guidelines
- HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS expert consensus statement on catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias
- American Heart Association web-based integrated guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. Part 7: adult advanced cardiovascular life support
More Guidelines
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