Classifying by QRS Width and Regularity

Show Notes

Take Home Points

1. When looking at a tachy rhythm that isn’t sinus tach, quickly differentiate by determining if the QRS complexes is narrow or wide and then determine if the rhythm is regular or irregular. This approach quickly drops the rhythm into 1 of 4 boxes and makes rhythm determination much easier
2. Each of those 4 categories has a small set of rhythms included. Narrow and irregular – AF, Aflutter with variable block or MFAT. Narrow and regular – SVT or Aflutter. Wide and irregular – Torsades, VF, AF with aberrancy or a BBB. Wide and regular – VTach, SVT with aberrancy or SVT with a BBB.
3. If you see wide and regular, the top 3 diagnoses are VT, VT and VT. Assuming VT and treating for that will almost never send you astray

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Torsades de Pointes

Torsades de Pointes