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ventricular tachycardia

(Science: cardiology) abnormal accelerated ventricular rhythm with a usual rate of 150-200 beats per minute.

Because ventricular tachycardia originates in the ventricle, it appears as a wide complex rhythm on eCG. A potentially unstable rhythm that may result in fainting, low blood pressure, shock or sudden death.

ventricular tachycardia has the potential of degrading to the more serious ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular tachycardia is a common and often, lethal complication of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Origin: Gr. Kardia = heart