Ventricular tachycardia
Telling VT from SVT with aberrancy, acute treatment by stability and morphology, torsades, electrical storm, ICDs and ablation.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Most VT comes from scar, usually old myocardial infarction. Scar-related re-entry gives monomorphic VT.
- A broad-complex tachycardia is VT until proven otherwise, especially with prior MI or a known cardiomyopathy.
- Unstable: shock it (synchronised if there's a pulse). Stable: cardioversion or amiodarone. Never verapamil unless you know it's fascicular VT.
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Sources
- Zeppenfeld K, Tfelt-Hansen J, de Riva M et al. 2022 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Eur Heart J 2022;43:3997-4126. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehac262European Society of Cardiology, 2022
- ANZCOR Guideline 11.2: Protocols for adult advanced life supportAU/NZAustralian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation
- Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle driversAU/NZAustroads and National Transport Commission, 2022
- Sapp JL, Tang ASL, Parkash R et al. Catheter ablation or antiarrhythmic drugs for ventricular tachycardia (VANISH2). N Engl J Med 2025;392:737-47New England Journal of Medicine, 2025
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy