Child with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia of prolonged duration.
Ventricular tachycardia is a dangerous dysrhythmia most commonly encountered in adult patients with heart disease. It is uncommon for a previously healthy child to present to the emergency department with hemodynamically stable ventricular tachycardia. The diagnosis and management of this dysrhythmia may pose a significant challenge to the emergency physician. We present the case of a previously healthy child with a structurally normal heart who had ventricular tachycardia for a prolonged period. Common causes of childhood tachycardia and options for treatment of stable and unstable patients are discussed.
Suner
S
S
Department of Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, USA.
Simon
H K
HK
Feit
L R
LR
Linakis
J G
JG
D002675:Child, Preschool; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014700:Verapamil