Ventricular tachycardia
Topic: Medical-surgical
A wide-QRS tachycardia that starts in the ventricles, often at a rate above 120 beats/min. Coronary artery disease, earlier heart damage, heart failure, electrolyte imbalances such as low potassium or magnesium, and some drugs are causes, and it can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation. Assess the client first: with no pulse, start CPR and defibrillate at once; with a pulse but hypotension, altered mental status or chest pain, prepare for synchronized cardioversion; give a stable client antiarrhythmic drugs as ordered.
- Also known as:
- VT, V-tach
- In Turkish:
- Ventriküler taşikardi
What does Ventricular tachycardia mean?
Ventricular tachycardia is part of the Medical-surgical topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
Search the whole glossary, add terms to your sets and review them in the Finito Nursing app.