ACLS review: Pulseless VF/VT Part 1

The Rhythms

·         Ventricular Tachycardia

·         Ventricular Fibrillation

·         Torsades de Pointe

Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular Tachycardia Characteristics

·         Rate: The atrial rate can't be determined. The ventricular rate is 150 - 250. If the rate is below 150, it is referred to as slow VT.

·         Rhythm: The rhythm is most often regular (irregular in polymorphic VT)

·         P Wave: Not visible usually  .

·         PRI: No P wave and no PRI

·         QRS: The QRS is wide and bizarre, 0.12 or greater.

Ventricular Fibrillation (coarse)



Ventricular Fibrillation (medium)

Ventricular Fibrillation (fine)

Ventricular Fibrillation Charcteristics

·         Rate: None

·         Rhythm: None. The baseline is totally chaotic, may be referred to as fine, medium or coarse VF

·         P Wave: None are visible.

·         PRI: No PRI.

·         QRS: None

Torsades de Pointe



Torsades de Pointe Characteristics

·         Rate: None

·         Rhythm: The baseline is irregular beginning with small amplitude waveforms at the beginning that increase in size and then decrease in amplitude once again

·         P Wave: None are seen.

·         PRI: No PRI.

·         QRS: The QRS is wide and bizarre, 0.12 or greater.


Reviewed 2/28/16