Signs of Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

Description

A rapid heartbeat that starts in the ventricles. The disorder is very dangerous because the heart is beating so fast sometimes it cannot get enough blood supply. VT can also become ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF means the heart is no longer beating but only shaking. In VF there is no blood pumping and cardiac arrest and death occurs if there is not immediate treatment. VT occurs because of abnormal electrical communications within the heart. The most common causes are a heart attack, heart failure, illicit drug use, congenital heart defects, previous heart surgery, trauma to the heart, chemical abnormalities in the blood (electrolytes), and an over active thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

Symptoms

Racing heart, fast heart rate, palpitations, fainting (syncope), near-fainting, light headiness, breathing problems (shortness of breath), chest pain, sweating.

Tests

A history and physical exam will be done. Extensive cardiac testing will be done to determine the cause of the ventricular tachycardia.

Standard Workup

CBC
Chem 12
CT Scan
D-Dimer
EKG
MRI
Troponin
X-Ray

Treatment

Therapy depends on the symptoms being experienced, the length of time the patient experiences the ventricular tachycardia (VT), and the cause of the VT. Prolonged VT is a medical emergency and depending on the symptoms being experienced may require CPR, immediate electrical shock to the heart (cardioversion or defibrillation), and medications to convert the heart rhythm (amiodarone). To prevent recurrence of the VT patients may need to take medications (procainamide, amiodarone, or sotalol), have radio frequency ablation, or surgery. Sometimes the VT events cannot be controlled or the risk of recurrence is very high requiring the placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). An ICD or AICD gives a life saving electrical shock every time the patient experiences VT.