AEMCA Practice Exam

Prolonged PSVT may lead to which of the following complications?

1. Peripheral artery disease

2. Generalized myocardial infarction

3. Cardiac arrest

4. Arrhythmia-induced stroke

The correct answer is: Generalized myocardial infarction

Prolonged Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT) can lead to significant complications due to the heart's rapid beating, which may compromise cardiac output and increase the risk for various cardiovascular events. One key complication of extended episodes of PSVT is the emergence of arrhythmia-induced stroke. This occurs as the elevated heart rates can increase the likelihood of thrombus (blood clot) formation, particularly if there are underlying conditions such as atrial fibrillation or mitral valve abnormalities. As the heart struggles to maintain effective pumping, this further elevates the risk of stasis of blood in the heart's chambers, yielding a higher probability for clot development and subsequent stroke. In contrast, other complications listed, such as peripheral artery disease and generalized myocardial infarction, are generally more associated with chronic heart conditions or ischemic heart disease rather than directly resulting from PSVT episodes. Cardiac arrest, while a severe potential outcome of any arrhythmia, is less commonly specific to PSVT when prolonged, as it often requires other underlying cardiac pathologies to fully manifest. Thus, among the options, arrhythmia-induced stroke stands out as a direct result of the complications arising from protracted PSVT episodes.