Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Therapeutic strategy in tachyarrhythmias 

Therapeutic strategy in tachyarrhythmias
Chapter:
Therapeutic strategy in tachyarrhythmias
Author(s):

Allan J. Walkey

and Jared Magnani

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0156
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 02 August 2021

The therapeutic approach to tachyarrhythmias in the critically-ill patient involves rapid diagnosis and haemodynamic assessment. Patients who become haemodynamically unstable due to tachyarrhythmia warrant direct current cardioversion. Effects of direct current cardioversion during critical illness are often transient unless the underlying arrhythmia precipitant is eliminated and longer-acting rate- or rhythm-controlling medications are instituted. Atrial fibrillation often responds favourably to a rate-control strategy and treatment of the underlying precipitants. After initial clinical stabilization, clinical management involves elimination of potential arrhythmogenic triggers and administration of appropriate rate or rhythm control medications. Assessment of the QT interval in patients with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is important in determining the underlying aetiology and treatment strategy. This chapter presents an evidence-based review of the therapeutic approach to tachyarrhythmias.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.