Ventricular Tachycardias - Torsades de Pointes

Question 1

Defintion

Answer 1

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) with prolonged QT - secondary to genetic mutations that result in slow repolarisation and a predisposition to VT
Waiting a longer time for repolarisation (Long QT) can result in random spontaneous depolarisation in some areas of heart myocytes. Depolarisation without repolarisation is called Torsade de pointes

Question 2

What is Torsade de Pointes

Answer 2

Rapid irregular QRS complexes which “first” around baseline, can cease spontaneously to develop VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION

Question 3

VENTRICULLAR FIBRILLATION

Answer 3

Shapeless rapid auscultations on ECG
Patent becomes PULSELESS + goes into CARDIAC ARREST (no effective cardiac output)
1st line treatment = ELECTRICAL DEFIBRILLATION - non-synchronised as patient pulseless