FREQUENCY OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF ADMISSION

OBJECTIVE. To determine the frequency of ventricular tachycardia in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during the first 24 hours of admission MATERIAL AND METHODS This descriptive study was conducted at the coronary care unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from July 2020 to January 2021. Using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique, 169 patients of either gender aged between 30 and 70 years with ACS were included. Patients were monitored for any arrhythmias e.g., Ventricular tachycardia by a monitor (Nihon Kohden) and on 12 lead ECG (Cardio flex II) when needed. All the data was noted in a proforma. RESULTS A total of 169 patients comprising of male 121 (71.6%) and 48 (28.4%) female patients were included in this study. The mean age was 57.45+7.69 years. Patients in the age group 30-50 years were 45 (26.6%) while 124 (73.4%) patients were in the age group 51-70 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 8.99+4.740 hours. Out of 169 patients, 48 (28.4%) patients presented with unstable angina, 91 (53.8%) patients had NSTEMI and 30 (17.8%) patients with STEMI. A total of 22 (13.0%) patients were found to have hypokalemia and 23 (13.6%) patients with hypoglycemia. Patients who were diagnosed to have ventricular tachycardia were 12 (7.1%). CONCLUSION In our study, ventricular tachycardia occurred in 7% of patients in the first 24 hours of admission who presented with Acute Coronary Syndrome. KEYWORDS. Ventricular tachycardia, Acute coronary syndrome.