EMS Protocol of the Week - Ventricular Tachycardia with a Pulse / Wide Complex Tachycardia of Uncertain Type (Adult)

One more tachydysrhythmia left! The prehospital approach to wide complex tachycardias with a pulse (including VT) is pretty straightforward. Unstable? Zappy zappy, just like before. Otherwise, Standing Orders call for a single dose of amiodarone – 150mg in 100mL of NS, infused over 10 minutes. OLMC will be called if additional orders are needed. Your Medical Control Options include synchronized cardioversion, magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride, or sodium bicarbonate, to be administered as you see fit based on what you think might possibly be causing the dysrhythmia.

That’s all there is to it! EMS will give a smattering of meds, bring you the patient, and leave you with the honor and privilege of figuring out what the heck the patient’s problem is! Good luck! And take pride in your newfound complete and utter mastery of prehospital dysrhythmia protocols. You did it!

Next week: some new stuff! www.nycremsco.org and the ever-present protocol binder for more.

Dave