title: Ventricular Tachycardias: Characteristics and Management.
abstract: Ventricular tachycardias include ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and torsades de pointes; although these rhythms may be benign and asymptomatic, others may be life threatening and lead to increased morbidity and mortality. To optimize patient outcomes, ventricular tachycardias need to be rapidly diagnosed and managed, and often the electrocardiogram (ECG) is the first and only manifestation of a cardiac defect. Understanding of the initial electrocardiographic pattern and subsequent changes can lead to early intervention and an improved outcome. This article describes mechanisms, ECG characteristics, and management of ventricular tachycardias.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 619-7, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address: aksana_baldzizhar@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Aksana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldzizhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 693, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Medicine, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box-693, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manuylova
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Electrophysiology, Federal Center of Cardiovascular Surgery, 6, Stasova Street, Penza 440071, Russia.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marchenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box-626, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Yury
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kryvalap
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 619-7, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Nursing Practice, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 619-7, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Arrhythmia; Electrocardiogram; Nursing; Torsades de pointes; Ventricular tachycardias