title: Electrocardiographic manifestations: wide complex tachycardia due to accessory pathway.
abstract: Tachycardia with a wide QRS complex is usually due to ventricular tachycardia (VT), supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with aberrant intraventricular conduction, or an accessory pathway-mediated dysrhythmia. The most common type of accessory pathway causing a wide complex tachycardia is the atrioventricular bypass tract. Distinguishing the accessory pathway-mediated tachycardia from VT or SVT with aberrancy is often difficult, but has important clinical consequences. This article will review the diagnosis of wide complex tachycardia due to an accessory pathway and its related management in the emergent setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical Center, University of California-San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive #8676, San Diego, CA 92103-8676, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Kirk U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Knowlton
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrigan
authors.forename: Marc L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: Theodore C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D011342:Procainamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011342:Procainamide; D000638:Amiodarone