Advanced Cardiac Life Support - Unstable Tachycardia

Tachycardia becomes unstable when the patient displays signs and symptoms with the rapid heart rate. These symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest Pains
• Dyspnea on Exertion or Altered Mental Status

Signs of Unstable Tachycardia Include

• Pulmonary Edema
• Rales
• Rhonchi
• Hypotension
• Orthostasis
• Jugular Vein Distention
• Peripheral Edema
• Ischemic ECG Changes

Tachycardia has to be the immediate cause of these signs and symptoms and

The tachycardia must be treated immediately with cardioversion in order to stop the patient from getting any worse.

There are many types of tachycardia including

• Narrow complex tachycardias
• Stable wide-complex tachycardias
• and atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter known as A-fib or A-flutter

The ACLS provider is trained to recognize the different types of tachycardia and how to treat.