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VT and VF can be caused by ischemia, infarction, cardiomyopathy, toxicities; QRS complex is wide. Differential included SVT with aberrant conduction. Treatment in unstable patients: assume VT (not SVT with aberrant conduction) and cardiovert. Stable patients: IV amiodarone. For polymorphic VT, consider magnesium. Comment: One of the principles of ACLS is that electrical shock is the final treatment for most tachycardic rhythms. If the patient has a pulse, cardiovert. If no pulse, defibrillate. The key treatment algorithms change fairly frequently, so it is essential to stay current with the latest American Heart Association ACLS guidelines and focus on principles. Always have a copy of the latest protocols on the crash cart. First Aid for the Family Medicine Boards j    (retrieved Feb, 2014). There are currently 1090 pearls in the database. While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, mistakes can and do occur. Use databank at your own risk. All pearls © 2024 by the Internet Medical Association. Click Here to view more medical pearls.