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Ventricular tachycardia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Wide-complex tachycardia; V tach; Tachycardia - ventricular

Symptoms:

If the heart rate during a ventricular tachycardia episode is very fast or lasts longer than a few seconds, there may be symptoms such as:

Chest discomfort (angina)
Fainting (syncope)
Light-headedness or dizziness
Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
Shortness of breath

Note: Symptoms may start and stop suddenly. In some cases, there are no symptoms.

Signs and tests:

Signs include:

Absent pulse
Loss of consciousness
Normal or low blood pressure
Rapid pulse

Ventricular tachycardia may be seen on:

Continuous ambulatory electrocardiogram (Holter monitor)
ECG
Intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS)
Loop recorder

Blood chemistries and other tests may be done.

Reviewed last on: 5/15/2008
Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Olgin JE, Zipes DP. Specific Arrhythmias: Diagnosis and Treatment. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP. Libby: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 35.

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