What treatment can be administered to a patient with V-tach who becomes unresponsive?

In cases of unresponsive patients who are experiencing ventricular tachycardia (V-tach), immediate intervention is crucial due to the potential for decreased cardiac output and subsequent deterioration. Synchronized cardioversion is often the treatment of choice for unstable V-tach in a responsive patient and for those who are unresponsive if it is deemed the most effective option based on clinical guidelines.

Synchronized cardioversion works by delivering an electrical shock that is timed to coincide with the R wave of the QRS complex to restore a normal heart rhythm without causing further harm to the heart muscle. This method helps regain a stable rhythm when the heart is in a potentially life-threatening state.

While CPR is important and critical for any patient in cardiac arrest, in the case of an unresponsive patient with V-tach who retains a pulse, synchronized cardioversion is prioritization for rhythm correction. Defibrillation is typically used for patients who are in non-perfusing rhythms such as pulseless V-tach or ventricular fibrillation, making it a different scenario. Adenosine, on the other hand, is used primarily for certain types of supraventricular tachycardia and is not indicated in this context.