Ventricular Tachycardia, Pulseless, Unstable, Stable?

[zzyzx]

What's up Anthony?! Sounds like when you go through ACLS in a few weeks you'll be way ahead of all the other students.

To answer your question...during my many years as a paramedic I have seen countless patients in torsades. :wink: Okay, I'v never seen torsades, nor have do I know any medic who has. If you can't synch, then yes, defibrillate, but only if they are unstable. If they are stable, hold off on shocking them or giving lidocaine, and instead give mag. I've researched this in the past and my understanding is that mag is the best treatment if they are stable because if you shock them they will just convert back into VT.

Has anyone out there actually treated a patient in torsades before?

Hey, you ought to think about doing your internship in Riverside. I'll hook you up with a great preceptor (30+ years experience!) who was my old partner when I was an EMT.