A prevalent misconception regarding wide-complex tachycardias

F. Morady, J. M. Baerman, L. A. DiCarlo Jr, M. DeBuitleir, R. B. Krol and D. W. Wahr

In response to a questionnaire, 59% of 196 physicians indicated that they were influenced by a patient's blood pressure and clinical status when attempting to distinguish ventricular tachycardia (VT) from paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with bundle-branch block. A sizable proportion of physicians are unaware that VT need not be associated with shock. More emphasis should be placed on making physicians aware that the differentiation of VT from paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia should be based on electrocardiographic findings and not on the patient's blood pressure or clinical status.