Arrhythmias - Ventricular Tachycardia/Fibrillation

Question 1

TYPES

Answer 1

• Ventricular premature beats (venticular ectopics)
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular fibrillation

Question 2

AETIOLOGY

Risk factors

Answer 2

• Myocardial ischaemia and infarction
• Ventricular hypertrophy
• Long QT syndromes
• Valvular heart disease
• Congenital cardiac abnormalities
• Short QT syndrome

Question 3

CLINICAL FEATURES

Symptoms

Answer 3

• Palpitations
• Symptoms of HF
  
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest discomfort
  • Syncope
• Cardiac arrest

Question 4

Ventricular premature beats ECG findings

Answer 4

• Widended QRS complex with abnormal morphology

Question 5

Ventricular tachycardia ECG findings

Answer 5

3 or more consequtive ventricular premature beats, displaying broad QRS complex tachyarrhythmia

Question 6

Ventricular fibrillation ECG findings

Answer 6

Erratic rhythm with no discernable waves (P, QRS, or T waves)

Question 7

MANAGEMENT

Ventricular premature beats

Answer 7

Typically reassurance or B blocker in healthy patients

Question 8

MANAGEMENT

Ventricular tachycardia principles

Answer 8

• If unstable
  
  • Synchronised cardioversion
• If stable
  
  • IV anti-arrhythmias medication, cardioversion if failure

Question 9

MANAGEMENT

Ventricular fibrillation

Answer 9

Defibrillation for all patients