Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmia that originates in lower chambers of the heart or the ventricles. It is usually seen in patients who have damaged ventricular chambers, frequently in the aftermath of a heart attack, but also in the setting of weak heart function called cardiomyopathy. Scar tissue in the ventricles will alter many local electrical properties and set up conditions favorable to formation of a local electrical short circuit.

Under specific circumstances, the circuit can be activated leading to a rapid arrhythmia. As this is always more rapid than the heart’s natural electrical activity, it takes over the heartbeat for the duration of the arrhythmia. Due to the fact that this rhythm is usually very fast and occurring in damaged chambers, the heart may not function properly or efficiently and low blood pressure or fainting (syncope) may result.

In its most extreme form, ventricular tachycardia can lead to fatal consequences. This is a potentially dangerous arrhythmia that almost always requires therapy. In some patients, ventricular tachycardia may occur when there is no structural heart disease. This “idiopathic” form often arises from the right ventricle and less often from the left ventricle. These arrhythmias are less dangerous, but also often require therapy.

Treatment for VT

In symptomatic patients with normal hearts, VT can be cured with cardiac catheter ablation. In those with a history of heart disease, a defibrillator, possibly combined with medical therapy, is required to control the condition. Patients with recurrent episodes who are not controlled with medications need cardiac ablation.