Torsades de pointes Flashcards
1
Q
What does torsades de pointes mean?
A
Twisting of the points
2
Q
What is torsades de pointes?
A
A form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with a long QT interval.
3
Q
What is the worry with this condition?
A
It may deteriorate into ventricular fibrillation and hence lead to sudden death
4
Q
Causes of long QT interval?
A
- congenital: Jervell-Lange-Nielsen syndrome, Romano-Ward syndrome
- antiarrhythmics: amiodarone, sotalol, class 1a antiarrhythmic drugs
- tricyclic antidepressants
- antipsychotics
- chloroquine
- terfenadine
- erythromycin
- electrolyte: hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia
- myocarditis
- hypothermia
- subarachnoid haemorrhage
5
Q
Management?
A
IV magnesium sulphate
