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Narrow QRS ventricular tachycardia
J J Hayes1, R B Stewart, H L Green
1University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195.
Annals of Internal Medicine
|March 15, 1991
Summary
Narrow QRS ventricular tachycardia is rare, occurring in 4.7% of cases. This condition, often misdiagnosed, presents with specific electrocardiographic findings beyond QRS duration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is typically associated with wide QRS complexes.
- Distinguishing narrow QRS VT from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and clinical features of narrow QRS ventricular tachycardia.
- To identify diagnostic electrocardiographic markers for narrow QRS VT.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive survey of patients with ventricular tachycardia was conducted.
- A sequential sample of patients with inducible VT and available 12-lead ECGs was analyzed.
- Data were collected from a tertiary referral-based arrhythmia service at a university medical center.
Main Results:
- Out of 106 VT patients, 5 (4.7%) exhibited narrow QRS VT (QRS duration ≤ 0.11 seconds).
- Three of these five patients were initially misdiagnosed with SVT.
- All narrow QRS VT cases showed at least two ECG findings suggestive of VT, besides QRS duration.
Conclusions:
- Narrow QRS ventricular tachycardia should be included in the differential diagnosis of narrow QRS tachycardias.
- Electrocardiographic features other than QRS duration are crucial for diagnosing narrow QRS VT.