Acute Management of Cardiac Arrhythmia in Adults

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Diagnosis

If the patient has a haemodynamically stable narrow complex tachycardia of uncertain nature, the underlying rhythm may be revealed (or terminated) by:

• Vagal manoeuvres
• Adenosine

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Tachyarrhythmias

Narrow complex	Broad complex
Atrial fibrillation Atrial flutter Junctional tachycardias (including AVRT, AVNRT)	Supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction Ventricular tachycardia Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (Torsades de Pointes)

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Bradyarrythmias

Haemodynamically unstable	Haemodynamically stable

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Drugs used in the treatment of arrhythmias

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DC cardioversion

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Indications for temporary pacing

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References

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Authors

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Review date

April 2014

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