Non-sustained ventricular tachycardias

Last reviewed: 1 Mar 2023
Last updated: 14 Jun 2022

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • history of CAD
  • history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • history of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
  • presence of other risk factors
  • asymptomatic presentation
  • tachycardia
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • palpitations
  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness
  • pre-syncope
  • syncope
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • CAD
  • left ventricular systolic dysfunction
  • hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
  • long QT syndrome
  • Brugada's syndrome
  • electrolyte imbalance
  • drug toxicity
  • Chagas' disease and other cardiomyopathies
  • catecholaminergic polymorphic VT
  • family history of sudden death
  • mental or physical stress
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • ECG
  • electrolyte panel
  • troponin
  • CK-MB
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring
  • echocardiogram
  • cardiac catheterisation
  • cardiac MRI with gadolinium
  • electrophysiological testing
  • stress testing
  • genetic screening
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

no cardiac comorbidity: asymptomatic

no cardiac comorbidity: symptomatic

post-MI

idiopathic dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Contributors

Authors

Fred Kusumoto, MD
Fred Kusumoto

Professor of Medicine

Mayo Medical School

Division of Cardiovascular Diseases

Department of Medicine

Mayo Clinic Florida

Jacksonville

FL

Disclosures

FK declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Professor Kusumoto would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Ronald R. Butendieck Jr, a previous contributor to this topic. RRB declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Sarabjeet Singh, MD

Cardiology Fellow

Adult Cardiovascular Fellowship

Department of Cardiology

Chicago Medical School (CMS) and affiliated hospitals

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

SS declares that he has no competing interests.

Vias Markides, MB(Hons), BS(Hons), MD, FRCP

Consultant Cardiologist and Chair

Arrhythmias

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust

Hon. Senior Lecturer

Imperial College

London

UK

Disclosures

VM declares that he has no competing interests.

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