Without evidence of benefit, an intervention should not be presumed to be beneficial or safe.

- Rogue Medic

Ventricular Tachycardia posts.

I have been trying to come up with a post about antiarrhythmics for sustained VT (Ventricular Tachycardia), but the abandoned drafts just pile up waiting for inspiration.

Lately, eveyone else seems to be writing about VT, so read their stuff.

Here are a few Ventricular Arrhythmia posts worth reading.

When the precordial thump works
by ER Nursey.

The precordial thump is no longer recommended by AHA, unless there is no defibrillator around. The precordial thump is supposed to act as a form of defibrillation. I have had good results with it. It seems that the precordial thump is mostly used by ICU nurses. They can see the rhythm, but the monitor does not have defibrillator capabilities. ED nurses often have not thumped anyone. ER Nursey demonstrates that she has a familiarity with the precordial thump.

Another Day on Call in the Arctic
by Albino Black Bear.

Wonderful writing. This helps to demonstrate what is meant by an austere medical environment.

Good Save
by TK.

TK mentions the counterproductive nature of OLMC (On Line Medical Command) requirements. Conversely, they initially shock VT at 50 joules, when it should be 100 joules to start for cardioversion. Perhaps that is the recommendation on this bi-phasic machine? The picture is of an old LifePak 5 with a voice recorder attachment between the paddles and the monitor. What museum provided this old picture? The first time I thumped a patient it was because of the LP5, but that is another story.

Anyway, go read these stories. Eventually, I may be able to get an antiarrhythmic post together.

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Comments

  1. Hey thanks for the props! Great non-zero reference in your comment about MD school BTW—usually when I drop that into conversations people look at me like I have two heads. I totally agree…people just don’t get it. But then, as we see so often in health care, folks don’t realize that working together instead of trying to out rank/out perform our colleagues is much more productive.

  2. ABB,Two heads is a non-zero number. :-)So many people are caught up in competition that is counterproductive. I can be very competitive, but if I try to compete on everything, then I end up worse off.When it comes to patient care competitiveness is almost never in the best interest of the patient.Too many people just don’t get health care.Keep up the great writing and don’t let the jerks get to you.

  3. Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid heart beat initiated within the ventricles, characterized by 3 or more consecutive premature ventricular beats. aprillexicom……………………………..Dual Diagnosis http://www.dual-diagnosis.net

  4. Yes, that is the definition of VT posted on a lot of medical web sites. What does that have to do with mental illness and drug abuse?

  5. Spam deleted.