Ventricular tachycardia antiarrhythmic drug therapy


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief:, Avirup Guha, M.B.B.S.[mailto:avirup.guha@gmail.com]

Antiarrhythmic drug therapy
Drugs such as amiodarone, epinephrine and vasopressin may be used in addition to defibrillation to terminate VT while the underlying cause of the VT can be determined. Possible causes or contributing factors to VT can be remembered as the six H's and five T's: Hypovolemia, Hypoxia, Hydrogen ion (acidosis), Hypo- or Hyperglycemia, Hypothermia; and Toxins, Tamponade (cardiac), Tension pneumothorax, Thrombosis, Trauma.

Long term anti-arrhythmic therapy may be indicated to prevent recurrence of VT. Beta-blockers and a number of class III anti-arrhythmics are commonly used.

For some of the rare congenital syndromes of VT, other drugs, and sometimes even catheter ablation therapy may be useful.

The implantation of an ICD is more effective than drug therapy for prevention of sudden cardiac death due to VT and VF, but may be constrained by cost issues, and well as patient co-morbidities and patient preference.

Trials on Beta-Blockers on Mortality in Patients With Heart Disease and Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias
Category : Electrophysiology