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Cardiology Physiotherapy Ventricular tachycardia

Causes of Ventricular Tachycardia

In this article, we will discuss various Causes of Ventricular Tachycardia.

In this article, we will discuss various Causes of Ventricular Tachycardia. So, let’s get started.

Ventricular Tachycardia is a wide QRS (>0.12 sec) tachycardia consisting of 3 or more consecutive ventricular premature beats at a rate of >100 bpm. The sudden onset of a wide QRS tachycardia usually rings an alarm bell if the patient is symptomatic. If left untreated, VT may degenerate into a fatal ventricular flutter. VT may be sustained (persists for >30 seconds) or nonsustained (does not persist beyond 30 seconds). The sustained VT requires termination because of hemodynamic consequences. Repeated episodes (>2 in 24 hours) of VT require external cardioversion/defibrillation or DC shock therapy.

Causes

  • Acute myocardial infarction or ischemia
  • Cardiomyopathy (ischemic or idiopathic)
  • Electrolyte disturbance (e.g. hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia)
  • Drugs (e.g. digitalis and other proarrhythmics)
  • Myocarditis, mitral valve prolapse
  • Reperfusion
  • Ventricular aneurysm
  • Pacemaker mediated (e.g. DDD pacemaker)
  • Mechanically induced by a pacing catheter or flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter.
  • Idiopathic
  • Miscellaneous such as right ventricular dysplasia, Bergada syndrome, sarcoidosis.

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