Definition of Wide Complex Tachycardia

Wide Complex Tachycardia

Wide complex tachycardia is a rapid heart rhythm (over 100 beats per minute) in which the QRS complexes on the ECG are abnormally wide, reflecting an abnormal path of electrical conduction through the ventricles. It most commonly represents ventricular tachycardia but can also occur with certain supraventricular rhythms conducted abnormally.

Because it may be unstable and can deteriorate into a lethal arrhythmia, wide complex tachycardia is treated cautiously within the ACLS framework. Unstable patients are treated with synchronized cardioversion, while stable patients may be managed with antiarrhythmic medications. When in doubt about the origin, providers generally treat a wide complex tachycardia as ventricular tachycardia for safety.

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Medical Definition & Meaning

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