WHEN YOUR HEART IS RACING TOO FAST
Ventricular tachycardia is a fast heart rate that arises from improper electrical activity in the lower chambers or ventricles of the heart. If there is no structural heart disease, it is usually not life threatening and can be treated with ablation or medication.
If there is structural heart disease such as coronary artery disease, heart attack in the past, Weak heart or a genetic abnormality, VT may rapidly generate into ventricular fibrillation and become fatal within a few seconds. When people die suddenly it is usually from ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation . The more dangerous forms of ventricular tachycardia are treated with a defibrillator, medications, ablation or a combination of the above.
Although a few seconds may not result in problems, longer periods are dangerous.[1] Short periods may occur without symptoms or present with lightheadedness, palpitations, or chest pain.[2] Ventricular tachycardia may result in cardiac arrest and turn into ventricular fibrillation.[1][2] Ventricular tachycardia is found initially in about 7% of people in cardiac arrest.[2]
Ventricular tachycardia can occur due to coronary heart disease, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, electrolyte problems, or a heart attack.[1][2] Diagnosis is by an electrocardiogram (ECG) showing a rate of greater than 120 bpm and at least three wide QRS complexes in a row. It is classified as non-sustained versus sustained based on whether or not it lasts less than or more than 30 seconds. The term "ventricular tachycardias" refers to the group of irregular heartbeats that includes ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and torsades de pointes.[2]
In those who have a normal blood pressure and strong pulse, the antiarrhythmic medication procainamide may be used.[2] Otherwise immediate cardioversion is recommended.[2] In those in cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation is recommended. Biphasic defibrillation may be better than monophasic. While waiting for a defibrillator, a precordial thump may be attempted in those on a heart monitor who are seen to go into an unstable ventricular tachycardia.[3] In those with cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia survival is about 45%. An implantable cardiac defibrillator or medications such as calcium channel blockers or amiodarone may be used to prevent recurrence.[2]
Extracted from Wikipedia
If there is structural heart disease such as coronary artery disease, heart attack in the past, Weak heart or a genetic abnormality, VT may rapidly generate into ventricular fibrillation and become fatal within a few seconds. When people die suddenly it is usually from ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation . The more dangerous forms of ventricular tachycardia are treated with a defibrillator, medications, ablation or a combination of the above.
Although a few seconds may not result in problems, longer periods are dangerous.[1] Short periods may occur without symptoms or present with lightheadedness, palpitations, or chest pain.[2] Ventricular tachycardia may result in cardiac arrest and turn into ventricular fibrillation.[1][2] Ventricular tachycardia is found initially in about 7% of people in cardiac arrest.[2]
Ventricular tachycardia can occur due to coronary heart disease, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, electrolyte problems, or a heart attack.[1][2] Diagnosis is by an electrocardiogram (ECG) showing a rate of greater than 120 bpm and at least three wide QRS complexes in a row. It is classified as non-sustained versus sustained based on whether or not it lasts less than or more than 30 seconds. The term "ventricular tachycardias" refers to the group of irregular heartbeats that includes ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and torsades de pointes.[2]
In those who have a normal blood pressure and strong pulse, the antiarrhythmic medication procainamide may be used.[2] Otherwise immediate cardioversion is recommended.[2] In those in cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation is recommended. Biphasic defibrillation may be better than monophasic. While waiting for a defibrillator, a precordial thump may be attempted in those on a heart monitor who are seen to go into an unstable ventricular tachycardia.[3] In those with cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia survival is about 45%. An implantable cardiac defibrillator or medications such as calcium channel blockers or amiodarone may be used to prevent recurrence.[2]
Extracted from Wikipedia
For pacemakers or defibrillators
Risks of procedure are mainly infection - if that occurs, the entire system must be removed, injury to the lung requiring placement of a chest tube for 1-2 days, injury to the heart muscle or lead dislodgement requiring repositioning. The risk of any of these is less than 1 percent.
The risk of SVT ablation or VT ablation is injury to a vein in the groin which can require local surgery, injury to the heart muscle or ending up needing a pacemaker. The risk of any of these is well below 1 percent.
Risks of procedure are mainly infection - if that occurs, the entire system must be removed, injury to the lung requiring placement of a chest tube for 1-2 days, injury to the heart muscle or lead dislodgement requiring repositioning. The risk of any of these is less than 1 percent.
The risk of SVT ablation or VT ablation is injury to a vein in the groin which can require local surgery, injury to the heart muscle or ending up needing a pacemaker. The risk of any of these is well below 1 percent.