Belhassen Tachycardia in a Pediatric Patient: A Simulation for Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellows

Cureus. 2022 Mar 26;14(3):e23521. doi: 10.7759/cureus.23521. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Ventricular tachycardia in pediatric emergency department patients is a high-risk, low-frequency event well suited for education through simulation. This technical report describes a simulation-based curriculum for Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and senior residents involving the evaluation and management of a 10-year-old female presenting with palpitations who is ultimately diagnosed with Belhassen tachycardia. The curriculum highlights the features that differentiate Belhassen tachycardia (idiopathic left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia) from supraventricular or other tachycardias, building upon foundational pediatric resuscitation skills and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) algorithms for advanced learners.

Keywords: arrhythmias; belhassen ventricular tachycardia; emergency medicine; pediatric emergency medicine; simulation-based medical education.