Differential Therapy of Ventricular Tachycardia - What is Relevant?

The diagnosis of a ventricular tachycardia (VT) is made by a 12-lead-ECG. The differentiation between VT and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with aberrant conduction can be challenging even for experienced cardiologists. Therefore, diagnostic algorithms have been developed to discriminate SVT from VT. Therapeutic management of VT includes its termination, identification of the triggering cause and stratification concerning the risk of sudden cardiac death. For acute treatment electrical cardioversion or defibrillation, antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation are available. The present article gives an overview about the different concepts of the acute therapy of VT dependent on its underlying cause.