What causes torsades de pointes?
Common causes for torsades de pointes include drug-induced QT prolongation and less often diarrhea, low serum magnesium, and low serum potassium or congenital long QT syndrome. It can be seen in malnourished individuals and chronic alcoholics, due to a deficiency in potassium and/or magnesium.
What is another name for torsades de pointes?
When the heart beats faster than usual, as in a case of torsades de pointes, it is called tachycardia. Torsades de pointes is French for “twisting of points” and refers to when the heart’s two lower chambers or ventricles, beat faster than the upper chambers, which are known as the atria.
What is polymorphic ventricular tachycardia?
Collapse Section. Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a condition characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). As the heart rate increases in response to physical activity or emotional stress, it can trigger an abnormally fast heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia.
Can you have a pulse with torsades?
Patients with torsade may be hypotensive, have a rapid pulse and have loss of consciousness.
What medications can cause torsades?
Other drugs that prolong the QT interval and have been implicated in cases of torsade include phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium carbonate, ziprasidone, cisapride, highly active antiretroviral drugs, high-dose methadone, anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents (eg, doxorubicin, daunomycin), some …
Do you defib torsades?
Pulseless torsades should be defibrillated. Intravenous magnesium is the first-line pharmacologic therapy in Torsades de Pointes. Magnesium has been shown to stabilize the cardiac membrane, though the exact mechanism is unknown. The recommended initial dose of magnesium is a slow 2 g IV push.
Do you give amiodarone for torsades?
Torsades de pointes is caused by a prolonged QT. Almost all of the antiarrhythmics that we normally use to treat ventricular tachycardia, such as amiodarone and procainamide, will prolong the QT further, and therefore can make your patient worse. Do not give amiodarone or procainamide.
What is polymorphic and monomorphic?
Due to having more than one possible variation for this gene, it is termed ‘polymorphism’. However, if the jaguar has only one possible trait for that gene, it would be termed “monomorphic”. For example, if there was only one possible skin colour that a jaguar could have, it would be termed monomorphic.
What is monomorphic tachycardia?
Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) is defined by the following characteristics: ●A regular wide QRS complex (≥120 milliseconds) tachycardia at a rate greater than 100 beats per minute. ●The consecutive beats have a uniform and stable QRS morphology.