6. EP Flashcards
What % of pregnancies have fetal arrythmias?
1-2
What is the most common type of arrhythmia in fetal life?
PACs
80-90%
What % of fetal arrhythmias are sustained?
10%
What can fetal SVT lead to?
- Hydrops
- Reduced ventricular function
(Limits diastolic filling time)
When is treatment indicated in fetal SVT?
- Sustained arrhythmia (>50% SVT burden)
2. Hydrops
What is the first line drug for fetal SVT if there is no evidence of hydrops?
Digoxin
What % of patients respond to digoxin for fetal SVT?
60-80%
What digoxin level do you need to have adequate fetal transfer?
2 (high)
This results in 60% fetal transfer
What happens to the fetal transfer rate of medications if the baby has hydrops?
Decreases by 50%
What are medication options for fetal SVT that is refractory to digoxin or if the baby is hydropic?
- Flecainide
- Sotalol
- Amiodarone
What are treatment options for fetal atrial flutter?
- Flecainide
- Sotalol
- Amiodarone
Which 2 drugs used for fetal arrhythmias have an excellent fetal transfer?
Flecainide and sotalol (80-100%)
What the fetal transfer of amiodarone
Poor, 10-30%
? role for this in infants with more severe hydrops
How early can a fetus with sustained tachycardia develop hydrops?
48 hours
Can adenosine be used in fetal SVT?
Yes, as an injection into umbilical vein
High risk to the fetus
Do isolated PACs require restriction from sports?
No
First line therapy for long QT?
Beta blockers
Risk factors for SCD in LQTS?
- Length of QT interval (>500 greatest risk)
2. Prior syncope
Can amiodarone be used in LQTS?
Relative contraindicated (prolongs QT)
Is a prophylactic ICD recommended in LQTS?
No
Best way to break flutter?
DC cardioversion
What effect does digoxin have on flutter?
Can slow ventricular response, but won’t often terminate the tachycardia
What are 3 drugs that can be used for flutter, but take time for effect and may not convert the rhythm?
- Sotalol
- B-blocker
- Amiodarone
What does a vagal maneuver do to flutter?
Slow ventricular rate so flutter becomes more visible
True or False: In infants, flutter has a low incidence of recurrence and won’t require short/long term anti-arrhythmics?
True
Strongest risk markers for sudden death in patients with HCM?
- FHx premature sudden death
- Septal thickness >30mm
Other RF:
- Non-sustained V-tach
- Syncope (not neurally mediated)
- BP decrease or inadequate increase during exercise testing
- LGE on MRI
What drugs does amiodarone increase effect/level/toxicity of any may need to have a decreased dose once starting amiodarone?
- Coumadin
- Digoxin
- Phenytoin
- Class I anti-arrhythmic
How is digoxin excreted?
Kidneys
True or false: Patients with WPW can have intermittent pre-excitation?
True
What are patients with WPW at risk for?
SVT
What % of patients with Lyme disease have cardiac involvement?
8%
When does cardiac involvement from Lyme disease usually present?
Within a few weeks of illness onset
What is the most common feature of Lyme carditis?
AV block
True or False: Most cases of Lyme carditis with AV block require pacemaker?
False- most resolve gradually with normalization of PR in 1-2 weeks… persistence needing pacemaker is unusual
Drug of choice for Lyme carditis?
Doxycycline
-Can also consider cephalosporin or amoxicillin
What may you need to due in Lyme carditis with AV block if the HR is too slow?
Temporary pacing
First step in neurocardiogenic syncope?
Increased fluids
Can an athlete with LVH and T-wave inversions on ECG still play?
Not until an echo is done
Worry about HCM
T wave inversions in which leads is almost always an abnormal finding?
V5
V6
I
aVL
Chronic opthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinal degeneration and at least 1 of ataxia/heart block/high protein in CSF
Kearns-Sayre syndrome
When does Kearns-Sayre usually present
Before 20
Cardiac issues in Kearns-Sayre?
BBB and prolonged QT often progressing to complete heart block
What should be done for a patient with Kearns-Sayre and bifasicular block on ECG?
Pacemaker (can rapidly progress to complete AV block)
Should all patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome get a pacemaker?
Not necessarily… only if bifascicular block
What is % mortality in infancy for patients with LQTS with 2:1 AV block?
50
What is recommended therapy for an infant with bradycardia due to LQTS with 2:1 AV block?
Pacemaker and B-blocker (the B-blocker will enhance AV block, but decreases chance of ventricular arrhythmia)
Relationship of the conduction system to the VSD in patients with an AV canal?
Posterior/inferior to VSD
Why is there LAD in AC canal defects?
- Initial QRS forces inferior/rightward
- QRS loop moves counterclockwise… superior/left causing LAD
Normal baseline HR of fetus?
120-160
Normal short term HR variability in a fetus?
2-3bpm around baseline
Normal long term HR variability in a fetus?
Baseline HR occurring 3-5 times per minute with an amplitude of 5-20bpm
What normally happens to HR when there is an increase in fetal BP?
Bradycardia (initiates vagal nerve reflex)
What effect can fetal hypoxemia have on HR?
Bradycardia or loss of HR variability
Hypoxia has a direct depressing effect on function of CNS and fetal myocardium
List predictors of poor long-term survival after ToF repair
- Older age at operation
- Significant residual hemodynamic abnormalities
- Use of outflow tract patch
- QRS >180msec
- Elevated LVEDP
- Poor LV function
True or False: Do PVCs increase risk of SCD in ToF patients?
False
What % of patients can have atrial tachycardia after ToF repair?
20-30% (may predispose to sudden death)
What ECG findings is a minor Jones criteria for acute rheumatic fever?
PR interval prolongation
How many major/minor Jones criteria for acute rheumatic fever?
2 major
1 major, 2 minor
Acute rheumatic fever follows an infection with that?
Group A strep
-After latency period of 3 weeks
What systems does rheumatic fever affect?
- Heart
- Joints
- Brain
- Cutaneous/subcutaneous tissues
What % of patients with RF have carditis?
50%
True or false, complete heart block usually isn’t seen in rheumatic carditis?
True
What is an early sign of myocarditis?
Tachycardia
What disease does Choreiform movements go with?
Rheumatic fever (rapid jerking movements of hands, face, feet)
Coronary artery aneurysms
Kawasaki
Dilated ascending aorta
Marfan
Bifid Uvula
Loeys-Dietz
True or False: SLE and scleroderma may be associated with a prolonged PR interval
True
True or False: PACs are common in fetal life and don’t warrant therapy
True
In a fetus with PACs, what can cause temporary decreases in HR?
Blocked PACs
What intervention is needed for blocked PACs in fetal life?
None if fetus has good ventricular function and no hydrops
What is the incidence of premature beats detected in utero?
2%
What % of fetuses with premature beats in utero have arrhythmias that persist in the newborn?
<10%
What % of premature beats in fetuses are PACs?
80-90%
First line therapy for SVT in WPW?
Propranolol
What 2 drugs are relatively contraindicated for SVT in presence of WPW?
Digoxin and verapamil
What is a second line agent for SVT in WPW if the patietn does respond to beta blocker?
Flecainide
What anti-arrhythmic class does mexiletine fall into?
IB
What causes the + T wave in V1 in a neonate?
Early appearance of repolarization in LV and late termination of depolarization in RV (overall LV to RV sequence)
-Change to negative T waves happens during 1st week of life
What happens to P waves in episode of PJRT?
Deeply negative in II, III, aVF
What is an accessory pathway mediated tachycardia due to a slowly conducting accessory pathway typically located in the right posterior septum?
PJRT
Due to the position of the pathway in PJRT, the P-wave axis is usually what?
-90 degrees… negative P-waves in II, III, aVF
True or False: P waves are usually easily visible on ECG in PJRT
True
True or False: PJRT often has 1:1 relationship of ventricles to atria
True
Describe PJRT
- Incessant form of tachycardia
- May cause a cardiomyopathy
- Rates tend to be slower (150-200bpm)
- Harder to detect clinically
What happens to ECG with K of 5.5-6.5?
T waves become tall and peaked
What happens to ECG with K >6.6?
QRS widening with ST segment elevation
What happens to ECG with K >8.5?
P waves disappear
Above what K level do you typically see arrhythmias?
9
*AV block, v-tach, v-fib
What are Q waves often indicative of?
Infarction
Most common arrhythmia in the acute post-op period following surgery?
JET
What is a focal tachycardia with gradual warm-up/cool down and rate variability?
JET
Where are P-waves in JET?
- Terminal portion or shortly after QRS
- Can be completely dissociated
Describe the rate in JET
Constant or fluctuate with increases/decreases in catecholamine state
True or False: JET has VA dissociation with ventricular rate being faster than atrial rate
True
*Know it’s not flutter/EAT because ventricular rate is faster than atrial rate
Describe relationship between atria/ventricles in re-entrant SVT
1:1
How to distinguish between tachycardia with V-A dissociation?
Narrow QRS: JET
Wide QRS: V-tach
Most common coronary anomaly?
Left circumflex from right main (1/3 of all)
*Usually incidental finding with no clinical significance
Name a coronary anomaly that is often of greater clinical significance
Left main from right sinus of Valsalva
What are the 4 pathways a left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva can take?
- Posterior to aorta
- Anterior to RVOT
- Within ventricular septum beneath RV infundibulum
- Between aorta and pulmonary artery
What type of coronary anomaly most commonly causes sudden cardiac death?
Left main coronary artery from right sinus of Valsalva passing between aorta and PA
Most likely result of maternal treatment with amiodarone during pregnancy?
Neonatal hypothyroidism
*No significant impact to neonatal liver, lungs, eyes or kidneys
What defect should you consider with LAD on ECG?
Primum ASD
-80 degrees
Common findings on ECG with primum ASD?
LAD, RVH, RAE
What type of ASD has a prolonged PR?
All
Which ASD types have a normal to right axis?
Secundum, sinus venosus, unroofed CS
*Can have an rSR’ pattern in V1
What % of the population has a PFO?
20-30%
True or False: Erythromycin is associated with QT prolongation
True
*Others include some anti-arrhythmic, tricyclic antidepressants, erythromycin, ondansetron, chloral
Half life of adenosine?
2-10 seconds
What drug is excellent for acute termination of re-entrant SVT or diagnosis of flutter?
Adenosine
What is done for SVT if patient is hemodynamically unstable?
DC cardioversion
What anti-arrhythmics are relatively contraindicated under 1 year?
CCB- Verapamil
First line therapy for neonatal atrial flutter?
DC cardioversion
- 0.5-1 J/kg
- High doses often needed in neonates due to the energy not being delivered as efficiently via neonatal pads
- If 1J/kg unsuccessful, increase energy and cardiovert again
What type of cardioversion if there is a stable rhythm with a pulse?
Synchronized
*Unsynchronized can cause shock on T-wave = V-fib
What may be needed if flutter cardioversion is successful, but re-starts immediately after?
Antiarrhythmic (like amiodarone)
Class I recommendations for permanent pacing in children, adolescents and patients with congenital heart disease?
- Advanced second or third degree AV block associated with symptomatic bradycardia, ventricular dysfunction, or low CO
- Sinus node dysfunction with correlation of symptoms during age-inappropriate bradycardia. The definition of bradycardia varies with the patient’s age and expected HR
- Post-operative advanced 2nd or 3rd degree AV block that isn’t expected to resolve or persists at least 7 days after cardiac surgery
- Congenital 3rd degree AV block with a wide QRS escape rhythm, complex ventricular ectopy or ventricular dysfunction
- Congenital 3rd degree AV block in the infant with a ventricular rate <50-55bpm or with congenital heart disease and a ventricular rate <70bpm
- Sustained pause-dependent VT, with or without prolonged QT, in which the efficacy of pacing is thoroughly documented
True or False: Complex ventricular ectopy is an indication for pacemaker placement
True
What type long QT presents as syncope or arrhythmia with exercise?
1
What is the most common form of long QT
Long QT 1
Genetic testing can reveal a cause in what % of patients with high index of suspicion for long QT?
75%
What is the gene mutation in Long QT 1?
KCNQ1
True or False: There is often no conduction disease of AV node (no abnormalities of AH or HV intervals) in long QT
True
What testing can be helpful in bringing out Brugada?
Procainamide challenge
True or False: Proxainamide can prolong the QT
True
In order for reentry to occur in cardiac muscle and to result in dysrhythmia, what must also be present?
Area of conduction delay
What is needed for SVT to occur?
2 pathways with difference in conduction properties and refractory periods separated by an area of nonconduction
What is entrainment?
Form of mapping reentry tachycardias
Name 2 properties of focal tachycardias
- Triggered activity
2. Increased automaticity
True or False: Patient can develop AV block years after heart surgery
True
- More common in patients who had temporary AV block in immediate post-operative period
- Late development of AV block may play a role in sudden cardiac death
Which patients with 2nd degree heart block need a pacemaker?
- Mobitz I (Wenckebach): Only if slow underlying rate or symptoms
- Mobitz II: All patients, there is conduction system disease and patient is at risk even without symptoms and with good underling HR
What is a macro re-entrant arrhythmia with atrial rates between 240-400bpm?
Atrial flutter
ECG with regular rhythm and saw-tooth P-waves?
Atrial flutter
- AV node can’t conduct at the same rate as the atrial activity
- Typically some type of conduction block (2:1 or 4:1)
- Block can be variable and cause flutter to appear as an irregular rhythm
True or False: Flutter is common in patients who have undergone atrial surgery
True
What is the most effective way to terminate flutter?
DC cardioversion
*Especially if hemodynamic instability
What is an alternative to DC cardioversion for hemodynamically stable flutter?
Atrial overdrive pacing
*With atrial pacing wires post-op
Temporary overdrive pacing can work to terminate what type of tachycardias?
Re-entrant
- Flutter
- SVT
For temporary overdrive pacing, what do you typically set the pacing rate at?
10-20bpm faster than tachycardia
*Can try progressively faster rates, but there is a risk of inducing a-fib
What is the effect of adenosine and digoxin on flutter?
Blocks the ventricular response, but doesn’t terminate rhythm
What is elective replacement indicator or ERI?
- Set when the battery voltage drops below a certain limit on pacemaker
- Paces at a rate lower than the set rate
- Pacemaker may change from dual chamber to a single chamber pacing mode as well to conserve battery life
How long will a pacemaker operate on ERI conditions from the point the ERI is set?
At least 3 months
What happens after 3 months in ERI for a pacemaker?
- End of life mode
- Erratic pacing
- Pacemaker further conserves battery life by disabling all pacemaker features except pacing
When should a patient be scheduled for pacemaker replacement due to battery?
When ERI first reached
What is rate-responsive pacing?
Increases the pacing rate in response to increased patient activity
*Can also set pacemaker to decrease rate at night during sleep and pace at set rate otherwise
What dysrhythmia occurs in 10-15% of patients with hyperthyroidism?
A-fib
How does thyroid hormone contribute to arrhythmogenic activity?
Alters the EP characteristics of atrial myocytes by shortening the AP duration and enhancing automaticity and triggered activity in the pulmonary vein cardiac tissue
What does hypothyroidism due to ECG voltages?
Decreases them
True or False: Hyperthyroidism can cause heart block
False- Typically doesn’t affect conduction
In peds, sick sinus syndrome is most likely associated with what?
Surgery for CHD
What type of surgery can cause damage to sinus node?
Anything within the atrium
*Risk for sinus node dysfunction is directly related to the extent of surgery in the atrium
Which two surgical patients are at the highest risk for sinus node dysfunction?
- Atrial switch
2. Fontan
Name 3 conditions associated with AV block
- Lyme
- Maternal SLE
- Myocarditis
Most common arrhythmia after sinus venosus ASD repair?
Sinus node dysfunction
Why do sinus venosus ASDs have a higher incidence of sinus node dysfunction?
Proximity to the sinus node with the potential for direct damage or injury to the sinus node artery during repair
What do the 3 letters represent in pacemakers?
- Chamber paced
- Chamber sensed
- Response to sensed event
What is inhibit mode for a pacemaker?
- When pacemaker senses an intrinsic cardiac event, it inhibits pacing
- Allows intrinsic cardiac events to happen without pacing
What is triggered mode for a pacemaker?
-Pacemaker actively paces in response to sensed event -Senses an intrinsic atrial contraction then paces ventricle in response
What does DDD pacemaker setting do?
- Paces both atrium and ventricle
- Senses both atrium and ventricle
- Inhibits and tracks in response to sensed event
If a person with a DDD pacemaker has a higher HR than the set rate, what is happening?
Device is sensing native higher atrial rate and triggering the ventricle to pace at same rate