What is Ventricular Tachycardia? ​

• Cardiac conduction is produced from the intrinsic beating of the ventricle cardiac muscle (myocardium) ​
  • Outside of the normal electrical pathway

A Fast Rate​

Although by definition VT is >100 bpm, it is often faster, ~150-250 bpm​

• All heart myocardium has a back-up pacing system, including the ventricles​
  • The typical back-up pacing of the ventricles is 20-40 beats/minute ​
  • Pathologic processes can make the ventricle’s myocardium beat even faster > 100 beats/minute ​
    • Hence Ventricular Tachycardia

Fast and NOT Functional​

• Note that here fast does not function well ​
• The rate and function of the myocardium may or may NOT generate sufficient cardiac output to generate a pulse because there isn't enough time between contractions for the ventricles to fill with blood 

Summary

• Ventricular Tachycardia is a pathologic condition wherein the ventricle produces a fast, often poorly functional rhythm. ​
• It may or may not generate sufficient cardiac output to generate a pulse

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