Wide complex tachycardia—ventricular tachycardia or not ventricular tachycardia, that remains the question
Open accessAbstract
Arriving at the correct diagnosis in cases of wide complex tachycardia remains problematic for many clinicians. In this paper, we review the historical development of criteria used to differentiate among the major diagnostic possibilities and compare the strengths and weaknesses of various differentiating algorithms.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
A taller right rabbit ear characterizes RBBB aberrancy but does not exclude VT.
“A taller right rabbit ear characterizes the RBBB aberrancy but does not exclude VT. 57”
From European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus document on the management of supraventricular arrhythmias, endorsed by Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Estimulacion Cardiaca y Electrofisiologia (SOLAECE) (2017) · cites this paper as [57]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities
Epstein, A. E., DiMarco, J. P., Ellenbogen, K. A., Estes, N. A. M., Freedman, R. A., Gettes, L. S., Gillinov, A. M., Gregoratos, G., Hammill, S. C., Hayes, D. L., et al. (2008) · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2008.02.032 · Cited by 2,546 · see citing works
ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities
Epstein, A. E., Dimarco, J., Ellenbogen, K. A., Estes, N. A. M., Freedman, R. A., Gettes, L. S., Gillinov, A. M., Gregoratos, G., Hammill, S. C., Hayes, D. L., et al. (2008) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circualtionaha.108.189742 · Cited by 1,768 · see citing works
A new approach to the differential diagnosis of a regular tachycardia with a wide QRS complex
Brugada, P., Brugada, J., Mont, L., Smeets, J., & Andries, E. W. (1991) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/01.cir.83.5.1649 · Cited by 738 · see citing works
Wellens, H. J. J., Bär, F. W. H. M., & Lie, K. I. (1978) · The American Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1016/0002-9343(78)90176-6 · Cited by 538 · see citing works
New algorithm using only lead aVR for differential diagnosis of wide QRS complex tachycardia
Vereckei, A., Duray, G., Szénási, G., Altemose, G. T., & Miller, J. M. (2008) · Heart Rhythm · doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2007.09.020 · Cited by 280 · see citing works
Wide Complex Tachycardia: Misdiagnosis and Outcome After Emergent Therapy
Stewart, R. B., BARDY, G. H., & GREENE, H. L. (1986) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-104-6-766 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Kindwall, K. E., Brown, J., & Josephson, M. E. (1988) · The American Journal of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/0002-9149(88)91169-1 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Application of a new algorithm in the differential diagnosis of wide QRS complex tachycardia
Vereckei, A., Duray, G. Z., Szénási, G., Altemose, G. T., & Miller, J. M. (2006) · European Heart Journal · doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehl473 · Cited by 246 · see citing works
Role of transesophageal echocardiography-guided cardioversion of patients with atrial fibrillation
Klein, A. L., Murray, R. D., & Grimm, R. A. (2001) · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/s0735-1097(00)01178-5 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
The Differential Morphology of Anomalous Ventricular Complexes of RBBB-Type in Lead V 1
SANDLER, I. A., & MARRIOTR, H. J. L. (1965) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/01.cir.31.4.551 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
R-wave peak time at DII: a new criterion for differentiating between wide complex QRS tachycardias
Pava, L. F., Perafán, P., Badiel, M., Arango, J. J., Mont, L., Morillo, C. A., & Brugada, J. (2010) · Heart Rhythm · doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2010.03.001 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Ventricular tachycardia as default diagnosis in broad complex tachycardia
GRIFFITH, M. J., Mounsey, P., CAMM, A. J., & Garratt, C. J. (1994) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91223-8 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Wide QRS tachycardia in the conscious adult. Ventricular tachycardia is the most frequent cause
Steinman, R. T. (1989) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.261.7.1013 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Comparison of five electrocardiographic methods for differentiation of wide QRS-complex tachycardias
Jastrzebski, M., Kukla, P., Czarnecka, D., & Kawecka-Jaszcz, K. (2012) · EP Europace · doi:10.1093/europace/eus015 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Baerman, J. M., Morady, F., DiCarlo, L. A., & de Buitleir, M. (1987) · Annals of Emergency Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0196-0644(87)80283-4 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Useful clinical criteria for the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia
TCHOU, P. J., Young, P. A., Mahmud, R., Denker, S. T., Jazayeri, M., & Akhtar, M. (1988) · The American Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1016/0002-9343(88)90008-3 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Drew, B. J., & Scheinman, M. M. (1995) · Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1540-8159.1995.tb04647.x · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Wide QRS Tachycardia in the Conscious Adult
Steinman, R. T. (1989) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1989.03420070063031 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Differential diagnosis of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia.
Hj, M. (1970) · PubMed · Cited by 67 · see citing works
The Bayesian Approach Improves the Electrocardiographic Diagnosis of Broad Complex Tachycardia
Lau, E. W., PATHAMANATHAN, R. K., Ng, G. A., COOPER, J., Skehan, J., & GRIFFITH, M. J. (2000) · Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology · doi:10.1046/j.1460-9592.2000.01519.x · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Wide‐complex Tachycardia: Continued Evaluation of Diagnostic Criteria
Isenhour, J. L., Craig, S. A., Gibbs, M. A., Littmann, L., Rose, G., & Risch, R. (2000) · Academic Emergency Medicine · doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.2000.tb02267.x · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Alberca, T., Almendral, J. M., Mayordomo, P. S., Almazán, A., Cantalapiedra, J. L., & Delcán, J. L. (1997) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/01.cir.96.10.3527 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Lau, E. W., & Ng, G. A. (2002) · Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology · doi:10.1046/j.1460-9592.2002.00822.x · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Value of the 12-Lead ECG in Wide QRS Tachycardia
Miller, J. M., Das, M. K., Yadav, A. V., Bhakta, D., Nair, G. V., & Alberte, C. (2006) · Cardiology Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.ccl.2006.03.003 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
(1979) · Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians · doi:10.1016/s0361-1124(79)80312-3 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Useful clinical criteria for the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia
Israel, R. S. (1988) · Annals of Emergency Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0196-0644(88)80266-x · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 27 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Katritsis, D. G., Boriani, G., Cosio, F. G., Hindricks, G., Jaïs, P., Josephson, M. E., Keegan, R., Kim, Y.-H., Knight, B. P., Kuck, K.-H., et al. (2017) · Europace · doi:10.1093/europace/euw301 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Almahameed, S., & Ziv, O. (2019) · Medical Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2019.05.008 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Moccetti, F., Yadava, M., Latifi, Y., Strebel, I., Pavlović, N., Knecht, S., Asatryan, B., Schaer, B. A., Kühne, M., Henrikson, C. A., et al. (2022) · JACC. Clinical electrophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.jacep.2022.03.017 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Team Management of the Ventricular Tachycardia Patient
Tang, P., Do, D. H., Li, A. C., & Boyle, N. G. (2018) · Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review · doi:10.15420/aer.2018.37.2 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Initial evaluation and management of wide-complex tachycardia: A simplified and practical approach
Littmann, L., Olson, E. G., & Gibbs, M. A. (2019) · The American Journal of Emergency Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.04.027 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
The Surface Electrocardiograph in Ventricular Arrhythmias: Lessons in Localisation
Haqqani, H. M., & Marchlinski, F. E. (2018) · Heart Lung and Circulation · doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2018.08.025 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Aberrant Ventricular Conduction: Revisiting an Old Concept
Morton, M. B., Morton, J. B., & Mond, H. G. (2023) · Heart Lung and Circulation · doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2023.03.001 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Wide complex tachycardia: differentiating ventricular tachycardia from supraventricular tachycardia
Ding, W. Y., & Mahida, S. (2021) · Heart · doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2020-316874 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Electrocardiographic Differential Diagnosis of Narrow QRS and Wide QRS Complex Tachycardias
Song, B. G. (2022) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.102568 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Tachycardia Therapies: Past, Present and Future Directions
Leong, A. M., Arnold, A. D., & Whinnett, Z. I. (2024) · Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease · doi:10.3390/jcdd11030092 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Alblaihed, L., & Al-Salamah, T. A. (2022) · Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.emc.2022.06.010 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Obando, M., & Marra, E. (2020) · StatPearls · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Removing the complexity from wide complex tachycardia
Abualsuod, A. M., & Miller, J. M. (2021) · Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2021.04.001 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Wide QRS Tachycardias Management in Emergency Departments: What Really Matters
de Alencar, J. N., de Carvalho, G. D., Campelo, R. T., Felicioni, S. P., Scheffer, M. K., & Marchi, M. F. N. D. (2024) · Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia · doi:10.36660/abc.20230829i · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Treatment-Resistant Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report
Abotabekh, A., Eldesouky, M., Suleman, S. A., & Somani, R. (2026) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.102014 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Vargas, N., Tibullo, L., Landi, C. A. E., Carifi, G., Landi, E., Salsano, E., Grezia, F. D., & Candelmo, F. (2017) · The American Journal of Emergency Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2017.05.009 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
SOP Präklinisches Management von Breitkammerkomplextachykardien
Eschbach, T., & Fessele, K. (2021) · Notfallmedizin up2date · doi:10.1055/a-1368-5667 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Clinical Use of Electrocardiogram
Lakshmanadoss, U. (2022) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.98009 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Tachycardia Associated With Pacing
Han, J., Husband, G., & Doppalapudi, H. (2022) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.122.061710 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Tachycardia origin prediction using point of care ultrasound (TOP-UP) - A novel technique
Mahalingam, S., Rajendran, G., Balamurugan, N., Ayyan, S. M., & Pillai, V. M. (2022) · Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine · doi:10.4103/2452-2473.357346 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Intraoperative cardiac arrest management
Ben-Jacob, T. K., Pasch, S., Patel, A., & Mueller, D. A. (2023) · International Anesthesiology Clinics · doi:10.1097/aia.0000000000000412 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Differentiation of Ventricular Aberration From Ventricular Ectopy
Leeper, B. “. (2024) · AACN Advanced Critical Care · doi:10.4037/aacnacc2024116 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Manejo de Taquicardias de Complexo QRS Alargado na Sala de Emergência: O Que Realmente Importa
de Alencar, J. N., de Carvalho, G. D., Campelo, R. T., Felicioni, S. P., Scheffer, M. K., & Marchi, M. F. N. D. (2024) · Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia · doi:10.36660/abc.20230829 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Transfer learning-based arrhythmia classification using electrocardiogram
Singh, K. N., Singh, S. A., Keisham, N., Thongam, K., & Majumder, S. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-22158-3.00003-x · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Duncker, D., Müller‐Leisse, J., Zormpas, C., Eiringhaus, J., & Veltmann, C. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-28672-9_7
Beyond the Basics: A Sampling of Puzzling Dysrhythmias
Townsend, T., & Nahlawi, G. (2021) · Critical Care Nurse · doi:10.4037/ccn2021526
Persia-Paulino, Y. R., Rozado, J., & Pérez, D. (2021) · Netherlands Heart Journal · doi:10.1007/s12471-021-01610-6
Persia-Paulino, Y. R., Rozado, J., & Pérez, D. (2021) · Netherlands Heart Journal · doi:10.1007/s12471-021-01611-5
Bucklew, E. A., Noory, A. J., Okumus, N. K., Radhakrishnan, S., Mahabir, S. K., Samra, G. S., Dysert, K., Cheema, T. J., & Ivanova, V. (2022) · Critical Care Nursing Quarterly · doi:10.1097/cnq.0000000000000405
Severe Hypokalemia Causing Ventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report
Pula, K., Patel, K. N., Briggs, R. P., & Weaver, K. (2023) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.34043
A rare ischemic ventricular tachycardia
Gudaghe, R., & Deora, S. (2023) · International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences · doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20231368
60-Year-Old Man With Acute-Onset Exertional Dyspnea
Abraham, H. M., Fredrick, T. W., & Jentzer, J. C. (2024) · Mayo Clinic Proceedings · doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.06.019
Challenging wide QRS tachycardia diagnosis: One trigger two mechanisms
Turan, O. E., Akdemir, B., Yılancıoglu, R. Y., & Özcan, E. E. (2024) · Indian Pacing and Electrophysiology Journal · doi:10.1016/j.ipej.2024.04.008
Identification of Ventricular Ectopy
Leeper, B. “. (2024) · AACN Advanced Critical Care · doi:10.4037/aacnacc2024626
Changing Rapid Wide Complex Tachycardia in a Middle-Aged Man
Ramakumar, V., Gupta, A., & Jain, A. (2025) · JAMA Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.3517
Salih, M. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-03240-9_4
Popa, S.-L. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-97030-6_38
Rosu, R. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-97030-6_36
- Authors
- Garner, J. B., Miller, J. M., Fellow, C. E., & Professor of Medicine and Director, C. C. E. A. T. P.
- Affiliations
- Indiana University School of Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Miller, John M
- Venue
- Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review
- Publisher
- Radcliffe Medical Media Ltd
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 23
- ISSN
- 2050-3369 (ISSN-L)
- 2050-3377
- PMC
- PMC4711501
- OpenAlex
- W2334850689
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IUScholarWorks (Indiana University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
- Keywords
- wide complex tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review