17) Cardiac Arrhythmias Flashcards
Describe some abnormal impulse generations in the heart:
Delayed or early afterpolarisation
Ectopic focus
Describe some abnormal conduction that can occur in the heart:
Conduction block
Re-entry loops
What is circus movement (in terms of conduction)?
Part of conduction pathway is blocked so impulse travels in retrograde fashion, re-exciting some cells
Describe Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome:
Accessory pathway between atria and ventricles (bundle of Kent), that doesn’t have rate slowing properties of AVN
What are the general actions of arrhythmia drugs on impulse generation and conduction?
Decrease funny current slope in pacemaker cells
Raise threshold to prolong action potential
Decrease conduction velocity
Increase refractory period
What are examples of class Ia anti-arrhythmics?
Quinidine and procainamide
What is the mechanism of action of class Ia anti-arrhythmics?
Decrease conduction, increase refractory period and increase AP threshold by sodium channel blocking
When are class Ia anti-arrhythmics indicated?
Prevent AF
Ventricular arrhythmias
What are the side effects of class Ia anti-arrhythmics?
Hypotension Proarrthymia Dizziness Confusion Lupus like syndrome (procainamide)
What are examples of class Ib anti-arrhythmics?
Lidocaine, mexiletine
What are examples of class Ic anti-arrhythmics?
Flecainide, propafenone
What are examples of class II anti-arrhythmics?
Propanolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, esmolol
What are examples of class III anti-arrhythmics?
Amiodarone, sotalol
What are examples of class IV anti-arrhythmics?
Verapamil, diltiazem
What is the mechanism of action of class Ib anti-arrhythmics?
Sodium channel blockers (fast association) - decrease Na+ conduction in fast beating or ischemic tissue