== 2006 ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death (DO NOT EDIT) <ref name="pmid16935995">{{cite journal| author=Zipes DP, Camm AJ, Borggrefe M, Buxton AE, Chaitman B, Fromer M et al.| title=ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (writing committee to develop Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death): developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. | journal=Circulation | year= 2006 | volume= 114 | issue= 10 | pages= e385-484 | pmid=16935995 | doi=10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.178233 | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=16935995}}</ref> ==
== 2006 ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death (DO NOT EDIT) <ref name="pmid16935995">{{cite journal| author=Zipes DP, Camm AJ, Borggrefe M, Buxton AE, Chaitman B, Fromer M et al.| title=ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (writing committee to develop Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death): developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. | journal=Circulation | year= 2006 | volume= 114 | issue= 10 | pages= e385-484 | pmid=16935995 | doi=10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.178233 | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=16935995}}</ref> ==
Long term anti-arrhythmic therapy may be indicated to prevent recurrence of VT. Beta-blockers and a number of class III anti-arrhythmics are commonly used.
For some of the rare congenital syndromes of VT, other drugs, and sometimes even catheter ablation therapy may be useful.
The implantation of an ICD is more effective than drug therapy for prevention of sudden cardiac death due to VT and VF, but may be constrained by cost issues, and well as patient comorbidities and patient preference.
Contraindicated medications
Ventricular tachycardia is considered an absolute contraindication to the use of the following medications:
"1. After establishing the presence of definite, suspected, or impending cardiac arrest, the first priority should be activation of a response team capable of identifying the specific mechanism and carrying out prompt intervention. (Level of Evidence: B) "
"3. In an out-of-hospital setting, if an AED is available, it should be applied immediately and shock therapy administered according to the algorithms contained in the documents on CPR[2][3] developed by the AHA in association with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and/or the European Resuscitation Council (ERC). (Level of Evidence: C) "
"4. For victims with ventricular tachyarrhythmic mechanisms of cardiac arrest, when recurrences occur after a maximally defibrillating shock (generally 360 J for monophasic defibrillators), intravenous amiodarone should be the preferred antiarrhythmic drug for attempting a stable rhythm after further defibrillations. (Level of Evidence: B) "
" 1. For response times greater than or equal to 5 min, a brief (less than 90 to 180 s) period of CPR is reasonable prior to attempting defibrillation. (Level of Evidence: B ) "
"1. Patients presenting with sustained VT in whom low level elevations in cardiac biomarkers of myocyte injury/necrosis are documented should be treated similarly to patients who have sustained VT and in whom no biomarker rise is documented. (Level of Evidence: C)"
Sustained Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (DO NOT EDIT) [1]
" 2. Intravenous amiodarone is reasonable in patients with sustained monomorphic VT that is hemodynamically unstable, refractory to conversion with countershock, or recurrent despite procainamide or other agents. (Level of Evidence: C) "
"2. Intravenous beta blockers are useful for patients with recurrent polymorphic VT, especially if ischemia is suspected or cannot be excluded. (Level of Evidence: B) "
"3. Intravenous loading with amiodarone is useful for patients with recurrent polymorphic VT in the absence of abnormal repolarization related to congenital or acquired LQTS. (Level of Evidence: C) "
" 1. Intravenous lidocaine may be reasonable for treatment of polymorphic VT specifically associated with acute myocardial ischemia or infarction. (Level of Evidence: C)"
"4.Isoproterenol is reasonable as temporary treatment in acute patients who present with recurrent pause-dependent torsades de pointes who do not have congenital LQTS. (Level of Evidence: B)"
"1.Catheter ablation is useful in patients with structurally normal hearts with symptomatic, drug-refractory VT arising from the RV or LV or in those who are drug intolerant or who do not desire long-term drug therapy. (Level of Evidence: C)"
"1. High intermittent doses and cumulative doses exceeding the recommended levels should be avoided in patients receiving anthracyclines such as doxorubicin. (Level of Evidence: B)"
"2. All patients receiving 5-fluorouracil therapy should receive close supervision and immediate discontinuation of the infusion if symptoms or signs of myocardial ischemia occur. Further treatment with 5-fluorouracil must be avoided in these individuals. (Level of Evidence: C)"