Ventricular tachycardia (V tach)
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Ventricular tachycardia (V tach)
A fast heart rate that starts in the lower parts of the heart (ventricles) is called ventricular tachycardia (V tach). Ventricular tachycardia is a medical emergency.
The lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) pump blood to every organ in the body, including the heart itself. The ventricles receive blood from the upper chambers of the heart (atria). When the heart is beating normally, blood flows into the ventricles when the atria contract.
When the ventricles are beating very rapidly, there is little time for the ventricles to fill with blood from the atria and also little time to effectively pump that blood out to the rest of the body. Because of the reduced blood flow to the body, a person with ventricular tachycardia will usually have some or all of the following symptoms:
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of consciousness
- Weak or absent pulse
While a few people with ventricular tachycardia will have minimal symptoms, this heart rhythm is considered a medical emergency and must be treated immediately. Untreated ventricular tachycardia can often get worse and lead to ventricular fibrillation and death.
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or an AED (automated external defibrillator) may be needed if a person is not breathing or does not have a pulse. Paramedics are trained to identify and immediately treat ventricular tachycardia. AEDs are sometimes available in public places like airports.
Treatment for ventricular tachycardia consists of:
- Medicines given by medical personnel through a vein (intravenous, or IV).
- An electrical shock to the heart (cardioversion).
If you have had an episode of ventricular tachycardia, or if you are at risk of having an episode, you may get an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a small device that is surgically placed in the chest and connected to your heart. The ICD can tell whether the heart is in ventricular tachycardia and sends a small electrical shock to the heart. The shock can stop the tachycardia and prevent sudden death.
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | August 20, 2008 |
| Last updated: | August 20, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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