Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Torsades de pointes, torsade de pointes or torsades des pointes (TdP; also called torsades) (/ t ɔːr ˌ s ɑː d d ə ˈ p w æ̃ t /, [2] French: [tɔʁsad də pwɛ̃t̪], translated as "twisting of peaks") is a specific type of abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to sudden cardiac death.
The term "torsades de pointes" is translated from French as "twisting of the peaks" because the complexes appear to undulate, or twist around, the EKG baseline. TdP can be acquired by inheritance of a congenital long QT syndrome , or more commonly from the ingestion of a pharmacologic drug.
François Dessertenne (1917–2006) was a French physician who first described the special type of ventricular tachycardia in 1966 known as Torsades de pointes. In 1948, Dessertenne became the Assistant Professor of Medicine at Hôpital Lariboisière in France, assisting to Prof Yves Bouvrain (1910-2002).
It is usually a regular, wide complex tachycardia with a rate between 120 and 250 beats per minute. A medically significant subvariant of ventricular tachycardia is called torsades de pointes (literally meaning "twisting of the points", due to its appearance on an EKG), which tends to result from a long QT interval. [18]
Early afterdepolarizations can result in torsades de pointes, tachycardia, and other arrhythmias. [3] EADs can be triggered by hypokalemia and drugs that prolong the QT interval, including class Ia and III antiarrhythmic agents, as well as catecholamines. [1] Afterhyperpolarizations can also occur in cortical pyramidal neurons.
Torsades de pointes is the most serious side effect of dofetilide therapy. The incidence of torsades de pointes is 0.3-10.5% and is dose-related, with increased incidence associated with higher doses. The majority of episodes of torsades de pointes have occurred within the first three days of initial dosing.
Patients receiving arsenic trioxide, particularly those at risk for torsades de pointes, should be closely monitored during treatment. [76] [77] If toxicity reaches level 3 (as per National Cancer Institute criteria), treatment should be modified or discontinued before the planned completion of therapy. Patients can resume treatment only after ...
Pimozide overdose presents with severe extrapyramidal symptoms, hypotension, sedation, QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias including torsades de pointes. [7] Gastric lavage, establishment of a patent airway and, if necessary, mechanically assisted respiration is the recommended treatment for pimozide overdose. [7]