Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is usually asymptomatic, although brief palpitations may sometimes be experienced. Symptoms in a patient with known NSVT are most often attributed to underlying cardiac disease rather than the arrhythmia itself.
Defined as a self-terminating event. No specific treatment indicated. Management is directed at any underlying heart condition.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement may be used for selected patients who have additional risk factors such as structural heart disease. Patients at risk for sudden cardiac death and who also have discordant contraction of left ventricular function may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Prognosis dependent on presence or absence of cardiac disease. Left ventricular function in post-myocardial infarction patients remains the most important prognostic tool for overall mortality and risk for sudden cardiac death.
No increase in mortality demonstrated in those patients without associated cardiac disease.

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia

From the collection of Dr F. Kusumoto; used with permission

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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Images

Evaluation of nonsustained wide QRS tachycardia
Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia
Initiation of wide QRS rhythm is not preceded by a P-wave, suggesting nonsustained ventricular tachycardia
ECG showing AV dissociation. Deflections due to P waves (arrows) are not associated with QRS complexes
ECG from a patient with long QT syndrome
ECG from a patient with Brugada syndrome, showing terminal positive R-wave and ST-segment elevation in lead V1
ECG from a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
ECG showing an abnormal Q wave in V4 and ST elevation in V1-V6 in a patient with a large anterior wall myocardial infarction.

Citations

Key Articles

Al-Khatib SM, Stevenson WG, Ackerman MJ, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Circulation. 2018 Sep 25;138(13):e272-e391.[Abstract][Full Text]
Zeppenfeld K, Tfelt-Hansen J, de Riva M, et al. 2022 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Eur Heart J. 2022 Oct 21;43(40):3997-4126.[Abstract][Full Text]
Katritsis DG, Zareba W, Camm AJ. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 Nov 13;60(20):1993-2004.[Abstract][Full Text]
Goldberger JJ, Cain ME, Hohnloser SH, et al. American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Rhythm Society scientific statement on noninvasive risk stratification techniques for identifying patients at risk for sudden cardiac death: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology Committee on Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. Circulation. 2008 Sep 30;118(14):1497-1518.[Abstract]
Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, et al. ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities: executive summary. Circulation. 2008 Jun;117(6):e350-408.[Abstract][Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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