Critical urgency
-Very severe
This is a type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in which the heart rate is very fast (between 160 and 200 beats per minute), with a characteristic electrocardiogram pattern.
There are many causes, both hereditary and acquired, usually changes in the ion levels in the blood or side effects of drugs.
It manifests as hypotension, dizziness, loss of consciousness, chest pain and sometimes sudden death.
The diagnosis is based on the patient's history, a complete physical examination and confirmed by an electrocardiogram.
Treatment must be given immediately because of the risk of death.
- Charles I Berul, Stephen P Seslar, Peter J Zimetbaum, Mark E Josephson. Acquired long QT syndrome. UpToDate, May 05, 2015.
- Moss AJ. Long QT Syndrome. JAMA 2003; 289:2041.
- Camm AJ, Janse MJ, Roden DM, et al. Congenital and acquired long QT syndrome. Eur Heart J 2000; 21:1232.
- Passman R, Kadish A. Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, long Q-T syndrome, and torsades de pointes. Med Clin North Am 2001; 85:321.
- G.A. Sanz. Arritmias cardíacas. Torsade de pointes. Síndrome de QT largo. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen I. Duodécima edición. 497:498.
- Sonia Bartolomé Mateos, Eduardo Castellanos Martínez, José Aguilar Florit. Manejo de las arritmias en urgencias. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010.243:262.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright© TeckelMedical 2026

