Junctional Tachycardia is a cardiac rhythm where the electrical impulses originate from the atrioventricular (AV) junction at a rate faster than the normal sinus rhythm. This tachycardic rhythm may occur due to enhanced automaticity in the AV junction or as a response to certain triggers.
Heart Rate: more than 100 beats per minute
Rhythm: Regular
P wave: Inverted or absent P waves
PR Interval: P wave before QRS, o.12 sec or less
QRS: 0.11 sec or less
Junctional Tachycardia is diagnosed through an electrocardiogram (ECG) or continuous cardiac monitoring. Characteristic features include a heart rate faster than the normal sinus rate, inverted or absent P waves, and a regular or slightly irregular rhythm.
If Junctional Tachycardia is a result of reversible factors (e.g., medication side effects, electrolyte imbalances, ischemia), addressing these causes is essential. Antiarrhythmic Medications: Medications may be used to suppress Junctional Tachycardia, especially if it is causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromise. Ablation Therapy: For cases where Junctional Tachycardia is recurrent and refractory to medications, catheter ablation may be considered to target and eliminate the abnormal automaticity in the AV junction.