What characterizes ventricular tachycardia?

Ventricular tachycardia is characterized by a high heart rate that typically exceeds 100 beats per minute and is associated with a wide QRS complex. In this rhythm, the electrical impulses are originating from the ventricles rather than the atria, leading to a dissociation in the normal conduction patterns seen in the heart.

The wide QRS complex is particularly indicative of ventricular tachycardia because it reflects the abnormal conduction pathway that occurs when the ventricles depolarize rapidly. This depolarization happens through the ventricular muscle rather than through the normal conduction system, which is designed for the timely and coordinated beating of the heart. The altered conduction results in the widening of the QRS complexes on the electrocardiogram.

In cases of ventricular tachycardia, you will also observe that the rhythm can often be regular, but the most significant features are the high heart rate and wide QRS duration. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for differentiating ventricular tachycardia from other types of tachyarrhythmias, such as normal sinus tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia, which typically present with narrow QRS complexes.

The presence of regular P waves or a prolonged PR interval is not characteristic of ventricular