What is the drug of choice for torsades de pointes?

Treatment of torsade de pointes includes: isoproterenol infusion, cardiac pacing, and intravenous atropine. Intravenous magnesium sulfate, a relatively new mode of therapy for torsade de pointes, was proven to be extremely effective and is now regarded as the treatment of choice for this arrhythmia.

Which of the following drug can cause Torsades de Pointes?

Other drugs that prolong the QT interval and have been implicated in cases of torsade include phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium carbonate, ziprasidone, cisapride, highly active antiretroviral drugs, high-dose methadone, anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents (eg, doxorubicin, daunomycin), some …

Is TdP life threatening?

Torsades de pointes is an uncommon type of ventricular tachycardia, or disturbance of the heart’s rhythm. It is a complication of the rare condition called long-QT syndrome or LQTS, and it can be life-threatening.

How is torsades de pointes usually treated?

Treatment is with IV magnesium, measures to shorten the QT interval, and direct-current defibrillation when ventricular fibrillation is precipitated. (See also Overview of Arrhythmias.) The long QT interval responsible for torsades de pointes can be congenital or drug-induced.

What does torsades feel like?

You may suddenly feel your heart beating faster than normal, even when you’re at rest. In some TdP episodes, you may feel light-headed and faint. In the most serious cases, TdP can cause cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death. It’s also possible have an episode (or more than one) that resolves quickly.

Why is magnesium given in torsades Depointes?

Magnesium is the drug of choice for suppressing early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and terminating the arrhythmia. Magnesium achieves this by decreasing the influx of calcium, thus lowering the amplitude of EADs. Magnesium can be given at 1-2 g IV initially in 30-60 seconds, which then can be repeated in 5-15 minutes.

What is the cause of Torsades de Pointes?

The most common causes of acquired long QT syndrome are medications and electrolyte disorders (eg, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia). Drug-associated torsade de pointes is relatively rare, but is becoming increasingly common; its incidence is as high as 2-3% with certain drugs.

How rare is Torsades de Pointes?

The prevalence of torsade de pointes is unknown. Torsade is a life-threatening arrhythmia and may present as sudden cardiac death in patients with structurally normal hearts. In the United States, 300,000 sudden cardiac deaths occur per year. Torsade probably accounts for fewer than 5%.

Why is magnesium given for torsades?

Do you have a pulse with torsades?

Patients with torsade may be hypotensive, have a rapid pulse and have loss of consciousness.

What kind of drugs are used for torsade de pointes?

Torsade de pointes is most commonly precipitated by QT prolonging drugs, mainly type IA antiarrhythmic therapy such as quinidine and disopyramide, and other antiarrhythmic agents are reported to cause torsade de pointes as well.

What are the symptoms of torsades de pointes?

Torsades de pointes is an uncommon type of ventricular tachycardia, or disturbance of the heart’s rhythm. It is a complication of the rare condition called long-QT syndrome or LQTS, and it can be life-threatening. In this article, learn about the symptoms and treatment of torsades de pointes.

What do psychiatrists do to prevent torsades de pointes?

Background: Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatrists are frequently asked to initiate and manage psychotropic drugs, some of which can delay cardiac repolarization, prolong the QT interval, and increase the risk of torsades de pointes (TdP).

Can a heart surgery cause torsades de pointes?

In nearly all of these cases, TdP coincided with a long QT interval. These were perioperative TdP cases, meaning they were present before someone underwent heart surgery. In some cases, heart surgery can lead to arrhythmias. TdP episodes may be triggered by the use of certain drugs.