In cases of witnessed spontaneous VT, what immediate action is recommended?

In cases of witnessed spontaneous ventricular tachycardia (VT), the immediate action recommended is a precordial thump. This technique involves delivering a sharp blow to the patient's chest, specifically over the heart, which can potentially restore a normal heart rhythm in certain cases of non-sustained VT or when the arrhythmia is witnessed and the patient is stable.

The precordial thump can temporarily interrupt the arrhythmia and allow the heart's natural pacemaker to regain control. It is particularly effective in scenarios where rapid intervention is crucial, and other advanced measures have not yet been initiated.

The rationale behind this approach is that it may serve as a quick, albeit temporary measure, in an emergent situation. Following the precordial thump, if the tachycardia persists or the patient becomes unstable, further advanced cardiovascular life support measures, such as defibrillation or medication administration, may be required. Thus, this method serves as an immediate response while additional help is organized.

In contrast, while options like defibrillation are critical for treating certain arrhythmias, they are typically reserved for more unstable or life-threatening situations, such as ventricular fibrillation. Similarly, while adenosine may be effective for certain types of