Polymorphic VT
Also calledPMVT · polymorphic ventricular tachycardia · multiform VT
Definition
Ventricular tachycardia (three or more consecutive ventricular complexes at a rate above 100 bpm) in which the QRS morphology changes from beat to beat, with three or more different wide QRS shapes. Sustained ventricular arrhythmias during an acute coronary syndrome are more often polymorphic VT or ventricular fibrillation than monomorphic VT. Polymorphic VT that occurs with a long QT interval is called torsades de pointes.
Sources
- Al-Khatib SM, Stevenson WG, Ackerman MJ, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: executive summary. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72(14):1677-1749. doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2017.10.053
- Drew BJ, Ackerman MJ, Funk M, et al. Prevention of torsade de pointes in hospital settings: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Circulation. 2010;121(8):1047-1060. doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192704
- Samesima N, God EG, Kruse JCL, et al. Brazilian Society of Cardiology guidelines on the analysis and issuance of electrocardiographic reports - 2022. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2022;119(4):638-680. doi.org/10.36660/abc.20220623
Last reviewed 2 October 2026. Every definition in the EKG Dictionary cites the guideline, consensus statement or original paper it comes from.