A member asked:

What causes pulseless ventricular tachycardia?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Not really pulseless: When VT occurs at a fast enough rate, there is inadequate time for ventricular filling, cardiac output falls, and blood pressure falls. You may not be able to palpate a pulse but an arterial line would show a waveform that is reduced in amplitude. Rate is the key. As tissue perfusion fails, acidosis, hypoxemia and hyperkalemia result leading to ventricular fibrillation and death.

Answered 6/18/2015

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