Because the ventricles bear the major responsibility for propelling blood into circulation, any significant dysfunction can have a dire consequence. These are different from the premature ventricular complexes, the early ventricular beats previously discussed. Non sustained ventricular tachycardias are several consecutive beats of ventricular origin. They are transitory but may be life threatening, and the often portend development of sustained ventricular tachycardia.
Ventricular tachycardia resembles a sustained run of premature ventricular complexes.
This type of arrhythmia is strongly associated with coexisting heart disease, especially coronary artery disease, heart attack, and mitral valve dysfunction. In fact, ventricular tachycardia may develop in the days following heart surgery or a heart attack, as a result of either scarring or abnormal impulse conduction in the area involved. In addition, a host of other medical conditions, including infections, inflammatory disorders, and cancers that spread to the heart, can set the stage for ventricular tachycardia. This type of arrhythmia can cause palpitations, breathlessness, fainting, light-headedness, or a pounding sensation in the neck. Sustained ventricular tachycardia may lead to dangerously low blood pressure, difficulty in breathing, and heart failure.