torsades de pointes /tôrsäd″ de pô·aNt′, tôr″sād də point″/ [Fr, torsader, to twist together, pointes, tips] , a type of ventricular tachycardia with a spiral-like appearance (“twisting of the points”) and complexes that at first look positive and then negative on an electrocardiogram. It is precipitated by a long Q-T interval, which often is induced by drugs (quinidine, procainamide, or disopyramide) but which may be the result of hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or profound bradycardia. The first line of treatment is IV magnesium sulfate, as well as defibrillation if the patient is unstable. See also long QT syndrome.
