Which of the following is the best therapy?

A 78-year-old woman is admitted to the intensive care unit for acute pulmonary edema. She has rales to the apices and Jugular vein distention. Her EKG shows ventricular tachycardia.

Which of the following is the best therapy?
A . Synchronized cardioversion
B . Amiodarone
C . Lidocaine
D . Unsynchronized cardioversion
E . Procainamide

View Answer

Answer: A

Explanation:

Synchronized cardioversion is used when ventricular tachycardia is associated with acute pulmonary edema. Unsynchronized cardioversion is used for ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia without a pulse. Medical therapy, such as lidocaine, amiodarone, or procainamide, can be used for sustained ventricular tachycardia that is hemodynamically stable.