TORSADE DE POINTES (QT PROLONGATION)

Question 1

Torsade de pointes

Answer 1

• ventricular tachycardia associated with long QT interval
• self-limiting but are frequentlu recurrent
• can cause impairment or loss of consciousness

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

• usually drug induced
• hypokalaemia
• severe bradycardia
• genetic predisposition

Question 3

Drugs which cause QT prolongation

Answer 3

Antiarrythmics
macrolides
Antipsychotics
SSRIs
TCAs
antifungals

Question 4

episodes of TDP are usually…

Answer 4

self limiting but are frequently recurrent and can cause impairment or loss of consciousness

Question 5

what can happen if TDP is not controlled

Answer 5

arrhythmia can progress to ventricular fibrillation and sometimes death

Question 6

Treatment

Answer 6

1. IV magnesium sulphate
2. BB (not sotalol) and atrial/ ventricular pacing

Question 7

Antiarrythmics

Answer 7

prolongs QT interval further
avoid