What is the difference between ventricular fibrillation and torsades de pointes?
An abnormal heart rhythm is called an arrhythmia. When the heart beats much faster than normal, the condition is called tachycardia. TdP is an unusual type of tachycardia that sometimes resolves on its own, but can also worsen into a serious heart condition called ventricular fibrillation.
Is torsades a ventricular fibrillation?
Although torsade frequently is self-terminating, it may degenerate into ventricular fibrillation, which requires DC defibrillation. Any offending agent should be withdrawn. Predisposing conditions such as hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and bradycardia should be identified and corrected.
Is torsades VT or VF?
Torsades is defined as the combination of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia plus a prolonged QT-interval. Torsades can be caused by either congenital long-QT syndrome or acquired long-QT syndrome (due to electrolyte abnormalities and/or medications).
How can you tell torsades de pointes?
Symptoms of torsades de pointes include:
- heart palpitations.
- dizziness.
- nausea.
- cold sweats.
- chest pain.
- shortness of breath.
- rapid pulse.
- low blood pressure.
What does torsades de pointes look like on ECG?
Torsades de pointes is a specific form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with a long QT interval. It is characterized by rapid, irregular QRS complexes, which appear to be twisting around the electrocardiogram (ECG) baseline.
Do you defibrillate torsades de pointes?
Pulseless torsades should be defibrillated. Intravenous magnesium is the first-line pharmacologic therapy in Torsades de Pointes. Magnesium has been shown to stabilize the cardiac membrane, though the exact mechanism is unknown. The recommended initial dose of magnesium is a slow 2 g IV push.
Do you defib torsades?
What characteristic is seen with torsades de pointes arrhythmia?
Why would you not want to give amiodarone to a patient with torsades?
Torsades de pointes is caused by a prolonged QT. Almost all of the antiarrhythmics that we normally use to treat ventricular tachycardia, such as amiodarone and procainamide, will prolong the QT further, and therefore can make your patient worse. Do not give amiodarone or procainamide.
Which characteristic is seen with torsades de pointes arrhythmia?
What kind of tachycardia is torsades de pointes?
Torsades is a polymorphinc ventricular tachycardia. Vfib is a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. There are other things that can be polymoprhic ventricular tachycardia.
What happens if you have torsades de pointes?
Torsades de pointes is usually not sustained and terminates spontaneously but frequently recurs unless the underlying cause is corrected. Torsades de pointes may degenerate into sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
How is torsades de pointes ventricular syndrome treated?
Immediate treatment of torsades is unsynchronized cardioversion beginning with 100 joules, although some patients respond to magnesium sulfate 2 g IV over 1 to 2 min. Patients with the congenital syndrome require long-term treatment with beta-blockers, permanent pacing, an ICD, or a combination.
How is unsynchronized defibrillation used for torsades de pointes?
Unsynchronized defibrillation is required if a torsades induces ventricular fibrillation. The torsades rhythm is treated with magnesium sulfate 2 g IV over 1 to 2 minutes, correction of hypokalemia, pacing or isoproterenol to increase heart rate, and correction of the cause.
