Tachycardia (Broad Complex)

Question 1

What are the care objectives in broad complex tachycardia?

Answer 1

1. Rapid termination of life-threatening arrhythmias

2. Rapid transport to facilitate the treatment of the arryhthmia if treatment not available pre-hospitally.

Question 2

VT that requires management is defined as…?

Answer 2

1. Lasting >30s
2. Rate >100
3. QRS >0.12
4. Regular
5. AV dissociation or absent P waves

Question 3

What are the signs and symptoms of an unstable, rapidly deteriorating patient?

What rate are these symptoms associated with?

Answer 3

Inadequate perfusion - hypotension, pallor, sweaty
Acutely altered CS or unconscious
Ischaemic chest pain
APO

Assoc. with significant tachycardia of 150 or > bpm.

Question 4

What is the ALS management?

Answer 4

Apply defib. pads
Request MICA
IV Access
Pain relief as required

Question 5

What are the 2 conditions that may cause VT that are important to identify early and why?

Answer 5

Identify if TCA OD or if VT secondary to Ondansetron administration because Amiodarone is contraindicated.

Question 6

What is the role of MICA in this presentation

Answer 6

Stable/unclear VT - Amiodarone infusion

Unstable - synch cardiovert/amiodarone infusion