Torsades de pointes is a potentially fatal type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that occurs in the setting of a long QT interval (congenital or acquired).

Electrocardiographic Criteria

  • Paroxysmal episodes of polymorphic VT lasting 5 to 20 beats with a rate > 200 bpm
  • Gradual reversal of QRS amplitude and polarity, as if it were “twisting” around the baseline

ECG in Torsades de Pointes

Electrocardiogram with torsades de pointes

Torsades de pointes. Paroxysmal episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with gradual reversal of the electrical axis of the QRS complex, occurring in the setting of a long QT interval.

References

  1. Kahlon SS, Sikandar R, Tejovath S, Nair S, et al. Diagnosing Torsades De Pointes Based on Correlation to QT Interval: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022;14(8):1–9.
  2. Dave J. Torsade de Pointes. Medscape. 2022.