USAF EMS Protocol Practical Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Wide Complex Tachycardia (WCT) is characterized by a heart rate typically greater than or equal to 100 beats per minute, with a QRS complex that is wide, usually greater than 0.12 seconds. This type of tachycardia can arise from various underlying conditions, including ventricular tachycardia and other arrhythmias that cause the electrical conduction through the ventricles to be prolonged.

The key aspect of WCT is defining it based on the heart rate and the characteristics of the QRS complex. A heart rate of 100 bpm or more indicates a tachycardic state, while a heart rate below 100 bpm would be classified as normal or bradycardic, thus excluding it from the WCT category. Higher rates of 150 bpm or more, while still fitting within the wide complex tachycardia description, are not the defining cutoff for WCT; instead, the minimum threshold is set at 100 bpm.

Understanding this definition is crucial as it guides the approach to diagnosis and management in emergency settings, ensuring that clinicians are equipped to recognize and respond appropriately to potential life-threatening arrhythmias.