The following symptoms may occur in an individual with an impending cardiac arrest from Ventricular Tachycardia to Asystole at this point of emergency:

• Chest pain and discomfort prior to arrest

•  Diaphoresis or profuse sweating

•  Cold and clammy skin

•  Syncope (Fainting)

•  Light headedness or dizziness

•  Palpitations of the heart

•  Shortness of breath

•  Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin)

•  Rapid faint pulse or absence of pulse

Diagnosis Ventricular Tachycardia and Asystole

Individuals with symptoms of Ventricular Tachycardia or Asystole, suggesting an impending cardiac arrest, are treated as emergency in the hospital. History intake with the individual may not be helpful at this point. Presented with an unconscious individual in the emergency room, physicians will run down the list of different causes for fainting from drug over dosage, poisoning, severe anemia, neurologic stroke and more. The innate ability to identify the impending problem, even before diagnostics are started may enable the physician to save a life in a nick of time. The following diagnostic modalities may be immediately applied in the Emergency Room.

Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG) – The procedure that involves placing an electrode on the body to determine the polarity of body’s heart discharges. Physicians may determine the speed of the heart, rhythm and the timing of impulse as it passes through the different parts of the heart.

• Ventricular Tachycardia can only show multiple upward strokes with a rate of more 100 beats per minute with identifiable irregularities.
• Asystole may only show small irregular depolarizations or a “flat line”.

Cardiac Monitor- Cardiac monitor is like ECG that is continuously attached to the individual for the visual monitoring of cardiac activity during the revival process. The electrical activity in the monitor may guide proper decision making of the Emergency room physician.

Holter monitor – A continuous ambulatory Holter monitoring may be attached to the individual in the absence of a cardiac monitor to document the cardiac electrical activity during the whole process. 

Next Visit, Treatment for Ventricular Tachycardia or Asystole

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