What is Ventricular Tachycardia?
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an arrhythmia that causes the bottom chambers of the heart (ventricles) to beat faster and independently from the top chambers.
VT is defined as 3 consecutive abnormal ventricular beats. Sustained (long runs) can be life threatening in patients with or without structural heart disease. When in this rhythm, your cardiac output is compromised and can cause decreased oxygenated blood flow to the brain and body.
Other important descriptions of ventricular tachycardia that may be discussed by your electrophysiologist encompass monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. The rate of the ventricular tachycardia is also important to help identify the risk level of the arrhythmia.
This rhythm can occur in children with normal heart structure and those with congenital heart disease.