Wide Complex Tachycardia: Get Comfortable With Uncertainty

Wide Complex Tachycardia: Get Comfortable With Uncertainty

Update: 2025-01-14
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Learn a systematic approach to management of wide complex tachycardia that doesn't rely on exact rhythm identification or scoring systems with guest Dr. Kevin Butler. By understanding the physiology rather than memorizing a score or algorithm you can use Kevin's approach and ABCD mnemonic to help differentiate between ventricular tachycardia, SVT with aberrancy, and other arrhythmias. Learn how not to miss the vital mimics with his SPAM filter. And finally by understanding which treatments are safe and which treatments potentially dangerous you can understand how to move forward even when you're not exactly sure what the arrhythmia is. Whether you're an EMT, paramedic, or emergency physician, this episode provides the essential principles and stepwise strategies to ensure effective and safe patient management.
00:00  Introduction to Arrhythmia Management
00:29  Personal Anecdote: Lessons from Paramedic School
02:04  Introducing Dr. Kevin Butler
02:16  Sponsor Message: The Recess Tailor
03:35  Welcome to EMS Cast
04:04  Understanding Wide Complex Tachycardia
05:37  Approach to Arrhythmia Management
07:02  Principles of Managing Wide Complex Tachycardia
08:39  Pathophysiology of Wide Complex Tachycardia
18:30  Identifying and Treating Mimics
26:55  Regular vs. Irregular Wide Complex Tachycardia
29:59  Understanding Torsades and Its Management
30:25  Identifying Atrial Fibrillation with Pre-Excitation
32:14  Treatment Considerations for AFib with WPW
35:02  Distinguishing Between VT and SVT with Aberrancy
37:09  Physiological Approach to ECG Interpretation
40:24  ABCD Mnemonic for VT Diagnosis
47:49  EMS Treatment Protocols for Wide Complex Tachycardia
51:54  Pre-Hospital Cardioversion Tips
55:22  Emergency Department Approach to Wide Complex Tachycardia
58:00  Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways



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Guest/Cast/Crew information-

Guest- Dr. Kevin Butler, Emergency Physician, Lead Instructor for DHREM's EKG didactic curriculum

Host- Ross Orpet, Will Berry 



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  • Twitter- @ems_cast

  • Website- www.emspodcast.com


 

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Wide Complex Tachycardia: Get Comfortable With Uncertainty

Wide Complex Tachycardia: Get Comfortable With Uncertainty

Ross Orpet, Paramedic turned EMS Physician