In a patient with ventricular tachycardia due to electrolyte imbalance, what is the preferred treatment?

Study for the Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist Exam. Utilize flashcards and answer multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Prepare efficiently for your certification!

In cases of ventricular tachycardia stemming from electrolyte imbalances, administering magnesium is the preferred treatment, particularly when hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels) is a contributing factor. Magnesium plays a crucial role in maintaining normal cardiac function and helps stabilize the myocardial cell membranes. In situations where ventricular tachycardia is present due to low magnesium levels, replenishing magnesium can be lifesaving and often leads to the resolution of arrhythmias.

This treatment is particularly relevant in conditions such as torsades de pointes, a specific type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT intervals, which can be exacerbated by low magnesium levels. Restoring magnesium can help to reset the electrical activity in the heart, thus correcting the arrhythmia.

While calcium administration may be considered in scenarios involving hyperkalemia or calcium channel blocker overdose, it is not the treatment of choice for ventricular tachycardia resulting from generalized electrolyte imbalances. Increasing cardiac output does not address the underlying arrhythmia and could potentially worsen the situation by allowing persistently high heart rates to continue overwhelming the heart. Immediate defibrillation may be necessary for life-threatening arrhythmias, but it is not the first step in cases specifically caused by an electrolyte imbalance,

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