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Pulseless ventricular tachycardia medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aisha Adigun, B.Sc., M.D.[2]

Overview

Medical therapy with IV vasopressors and antiarrhythmic medications i.e amiodarone, is usually simultaneous with defibrillation. 1mg 1V of epinephrine administered every 3-5 minutes or, a single dose of 40 units IV of vasopressin can be used as vasopressors.

Medical Therapy

  • Antiarrhythmic drugs can be attempted in pulseless ventricular tachycardia that is resistant to shock. Intravenous amiodarone is the first line in this scenario, lidocaine may be considered as well. 2018 AHA recommendations for use of antiarrhythmic drugs during resuscitation from adult VF/pVT cardiac arrest state that both medications may be especially useful on patients with witnessed arrest, for whom time to drug administration may be shorter.
  • 1mg 1V of epinephrine administered every 3-5 minutes or, a single dose of 40 units IV of vasopressin can be used as vasopressors.[1]

References

  1. Callaway CW (January 2013). “Epinephrine for cardiac arrest”. Curr. Opin. Cardiol. 28 (1): 36–42. doi:10.1097/HCO.0b013e32835b0979. PMID 23196774.


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