What does paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia typically indicate?

What does paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia typically indicate?

• A. Electrolyte imbalance
• B. Coronary insufficiency causing poor oxygenation
• C. AV node reentrant tachycardia
• D. Myocardial infarction

Answer: (B)

Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia (PVT), or paroxysmal VT, often arises in the context of underlying heart conditions that compromise oxygen delivery to the myocardium. In the case of coronary insufficiency, decreased blood flow impairs the heart's ability to receive oxygen, which can lead to arrhythmias like PVT. This occurs because the heart muscle becomes ischemic, creating a substrate for abnormal electrical conduction and reentrant pathways, thereby triggering episodes of ventricular tachycardia.

While electrolyte imbalances can also cause arrhythmias, they typically lead to a broader spectrum of disorders, but PVT is more specifically tied to the effects of ischemia on myocardial tissue. AV node reentrant tachycardia (which can be another form of tachycardia) primarily involves the atrioventricular node, leading to atrial rather than ventricular tachycardia. Myocardial infarction can certainly precipitate ventricular tachycardia as well, but it represents a more severe and acute condition than paroxysmal VT, which often occurs in the context of chronic coronary insufficiency or ischemia without the immediate implications of an infarct. Therefore, the correct context closely associates paroxysmal ventricular tach