A racing heart beat: To shock or not

Abstract

Ventricular tachycardia (VT), which most commonly occurs in patients with structural heart disease, can be associated with an increased risk of sudden death [1]. The most common cause of ventricular fibrillation is acute coronary ischemia, whereas a myocardial
scar from prior infarct is the most common cause of sustained monomorphic VT in patients with structural heart disease. More benign forms of idiopathic VT can also occur in the absence of structural heart disease. Treatment of VT involves both emergent management and prevention of recurrence with medical and device therapy. The left ventricular ejection fraction is most frequently used to stratify patients who are at risk of sudden death. This article the importance of recognizing a sustained pulsed VT, and preventing it from progressing into a cardiac arrest with appropriate treatment involving synchronized cardioversion, thereby reducing the chances of cardiac arrest.