Advanced Cardiac Flashcards
For patients with symptomatic A Fib who are hemodynamically unstable, what interventions are performed?
- Cardioversion
- Transesohageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
- Looking at tricuspid valve
- Looking for plaque or clot
- Radiofrequency catheter ablation
- Permanent Pacemaker
Causes of V Fib
- Myocardial infarction
- Myocardial ischemia
- Untreated V-Tach
- Acid-base imbalance (metabolic or resp.)
- Electric shock
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Hypokalemia
- Hypomagnesaemia
- Severe hypothermia
- Underlying heart disease
- Trauma
- Surgery
- Hemorrhage
- Antidysrhythmic therapy
- Cardioversion
- Rapid supraventricular tachycardia (SVTs)
- Shock
What should the nurse do after valsalva maneuvers?
Re-assess V/S & EKG rhythm
Normal Mg++ Level
1.3 - 2.1
Causes of V Tach
-
Electrolyte imbalances
- Hypokalemia
- Hypomagnesaemia
- Myocardial irritability
- Ischemic heart disease
- Acute MI
- CAD
- Cardiac arrest
- Drug toxicity
- Digitalis
- Heart Failure
- Hypothermia
- Hypovolemic Shock
- caused by…Hemorrhage
- which leades to…Hypotension
- Electrical shock
- Trauma
- Surgery
With Noninvasive Temporary Pacing (NTP), the QRS is ____________.
wide & bizarre
What interventions beyond medication are performed for Junctional Dysrhythmias?
Transcutaneous Pacing
Pacemaker
therapy used for V Tach, V Fib and asystole in which cooling blankets or hypothermia pads are used to decrease a patient’s temperature to 89.6-93.2 ºF for 24 hours before slowly re-warming at a rate of 0.5-1 ºC/ hour
Therapeutic Hypothermia
Dysrythmias defined as repetitive firing of an irritable ventricular ectopic focus resulting in a HR of 140-180 bpm
…or 3 or more PVC’s in a row or runs
Ventricular Tachycardia (V Tach)
Medication given for symptomatic Junction Dysrhythmia is:
Atropine 0.5 -1.0 mg IV bolus FAST q 3-5 min
Dopamine (if hemodynamically compromised)
V Tach HR is _____ to ____ bpm.
140 -180 bpm
PSVT patient may be prescribed ________ or ________ for maintenance
Cardizem or amirodione
What is used to hear the pulse during V Tach?
dopper or echo
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) HR = ___ to ___ bpm
150 - 280
Rhythm in which the entire heart is no longer contracting, only quivering without organized contraction with random depolarization of many cells
Ventricular Fibrillation
Complications of Transvenous Pacing
- PVC
- V Tach
- V Fib
- Cardiac tamponade
In Cardioversion, delivering a synchronized shock prevents ___________.
R on T Phenomenon
In Atrial Flutter, P waves are _______.
absent
In monophasic defibrillation, the monitor is set to a rate of _____ Joules.
360
In biphasic defibrillation, the monitor is set to a rate of _____ to _____ Joules.
120 - 200
Causes of Premature Atrial Complexes (PAC)
- Myocardial ischemia
- CHF
- Valvular disease
- Pulmonary HTN
- Hypermetabolic states
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Atrial stretch
- Hyperthyroidism
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol
- Drugs
- epinephrine
- catecholamines
- sympathomimetics
- amphetamines
- digitalis
- anesthetic agents
For A Fib patient with normal heart function, what beta blocker can be given and at what dose?
Brevibloc
Initially, 500 mcg/kg/min for 1 min
Then, 50 mcg/kg/min for 4 min
Then, titrate up as necessary
occurs when the R wave of the PVC falls on the T wave of the previous complex which may lead to lethal dysrhythmia, such as V Tach because the PVC occurs during the vulnerable period of ventricular repolarization
R on T Phenomonon
For Biphasic Cardioversion, the monitor is set in __________ mode.
synchornized
What does the nurse do when the metal external ends of the lead wires in Transvenous Pacing are not attached to the pulse generator?
insulate the wires with gloves, loop and cover with non-conductive tape
If PVCs are caused by MI or ischemia, what medication is given?
Amiodarone PO or IV
Will Sustained V Tach have a pulse?
may or may not
Signs & Symptoms of Atrial Flutter
- Angina
- Palpitations
- Weakness
- SOB
- Hypotension
- Irregular HR
- Syncope
- Anxiety
- Heart failure
- Shock
What are the only two rhythms that can be shocked?
V Fib and V Tach
Bradydysrhythmia is defined as a HR less than ______ bpm.
60 bpm
antidysrhythmic drug that may cause asystole
Adenosine
Premature Complexes are generated by ________, _________, or __________ tissue.
atrial, junctional or ventricular
Dysrhythmia in which impulses are excessively delayed or totally blocked in the AV node while the SA node continues to function normally, and atrial depolarizations and P waves occur regularly but because of the conduction dysfunction, ventricular depolarizations and QRS complexes are either delayed or blocked
Atrioventricular Blocks
Where are the electrodes placed during Noninvasive Temporary Pacing (NTP)?
one to the right of the sternum and one placed over the heart apex
Symptoms of SVT
- Palpitations
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Chest pain
- Hypotension
- Syncope
- Loss of consciousness
- Numbness of various body parts
Normal K+ Level
3.5 - 5.0
Symptoms of Sustained V Tach
- Non-responsiveness
- Loss of pulse
Symptoms of Junctional Dysrythmias
- Fatigue
- Fluttering in chest
- Chest pain
In ______-degree heart block, none of the sinus impulses reach the ventricles. The ventricles are therefore depolarized by a second, independent pacemaker.
third (complete heart block)
Junctional Dysrhythmias are most commonly _________.
temporary
Treatment for Idioventricular Rhythm, PEA & Ventricular Asystole
- Oxygenate
- CPR
- Intubate
4. Epinephrine
1 mg IV bolus followed by 20 ml saline flush
Repeat q 3-5 min
- If rhythm becomes shockable,defibrillate
Or if you have a pulse, try to pace
- Treat reversible causes (H’s & T’s)
In __________-degree heart block, some sinus impulses reach the ventricles but others do not because they are blocked.
second
During Radiofrequency catheter ablation, check for _________ pulses.
peripheral
Tachydysrhythmias cause _______ and ______ to decrease.
cardiac output and BP
Causes of Sinus Tachycardia
- Sympathetic nervous system impulse imbalance
- Hypovolemic shock
- MI
- Infection
- Heart failure
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Fever
- Hypoxemia
- Stress
- Fear
- Anemia
- Hyperthyroidism
- PE
- Alcohol
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Drugs
- Thyroid medications
- Epinephrine
- Atropine
- Aminophylline
Tachydysrythmias are considered HR greater than _____ bpm.
100 bpm
Rhythm called the “rhythm of last resort” or “rhythm of the dying heart” acting as safety mechanism to prevent ventricular standstill when no impulses are conducted to the ventricles from above the bundle of His…rate usually less than 40 bpm
Idioventricular Rhythm
MD may perform these procedures before giving meds for A Fib?
vagal maneuvers or carotid massage
Symptoms of Sinus Bradycardia:
- Syncope
- Dizziness and weakness
- Confusion
- Hypotension
- Diaphoresis
- Shortness of breath
- Angina pain
- T-wave inversion
- ST-segment elevation or depression
What does the valsalva maneuver and raising the hands above the head do in the heart?
slows SA to AV node conduction which slows the heart rate
Sinus Rhythm with Premature Atrial Complexes (PAC)
Dysrhythmias are treated based on what?
their effect on cardiac output and the risk to the patient
What does the nurse do if a patient is having non-sustained V Tach runs?
Give Amiodarone PO
Give O2
Call the physician
MD may perform these procedures before giving meds for SVT?
valsalva maneuver or carotid massage
cardioversion electrode placement in which the electrodes are on the right and left of the chest
Monophasic
Causes of Ventricular Asystole
- MI
- Severe electrolyte disturbances
- Hyperkalemia
- Severe uncorrected acidosis
- Massive PE
- Prolonged hypoxemia
- Electric shock
- Drug overdose
What should the nurse do during valsalva maneuvers?
- Assess HR
- Asess Rhythm
- Assess BP
- Record rhythm strip
Medications given for Unstable V Tach are:
Epinephrine
1 mg IV bolus followed by 20 ml saline flush
Repeat q 3-5 min
Amiodarone
1st dose: 150 mg IV rapid loading dose over 10 min (15 mg/min)
2nd dose: 360 mg IV slow loading dose over 6 hrs (1 mg/min)
Maintenance Infusion: 540 mg IV over 18 hrs
Then, 720 mg/24 hrs
Lidocaine (Xylocaine)
1 -1 .5 mg/kg IV bolus
0.5-0.75 mg/kg bolus q 5-10 min up to 3 mg/kg (loading dose)
Followed by infusion of 2-4 mg/min
(1 - 2 doses then start drip)
Magnesium Sulfate
1 - 2 gm in 100ml/D5W IV over 1-2 min
(normally give over 1 hr)
(Then start drip)
What does this EKG strip show?
It shows pacing attempted but not acheiving capture. The arrow shows the pacing stimulus indicator which is below threshold.
In Third-Degree (Complete) Heart Block, there about 2x as many P waves as ____________.
QRS complexes
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) is defined as a heart rate higher than ______.
150 bpm
For Biphasic Cardioversion, the monitor is set at a rate of
_______ Joules.
120
Signs & Symptoms of V Fib
- Loss of consciousness
- Pulselessness
- Syncope
- Apneic
- No BP
- No heart sounds
- Respiratory and metabolic acidosis
- Seizures
- Pupils become fixed and dilated
- Cold and Mottled Skin
For A Fib patient with normal heart function, it is controlled by administering what type of drug?
Beta Blocker
MD may perform these procedures before giving meds for A Flutter?
vagal maneuvers and carotid massage
Before we treat the rhythm, we must ________ the rhythm.
identify
A Fib
Causes of AV Heart Blocks
- Drug therapy
- digoxin
- beta-adrenergic blockers
- calcium channel blockers
- antiarrhythmic drugs such as amiodarone
- MI
- Chronic degenerative disease of the atrial conduction system (seen with aging)
- CHF
- Hypo- or Hyperkalemia
- Increased vagal tone
Sinus Tachycardia QRS Width
< 0.12 seconds
What are the potential complications of valsalva maneuvers?
- rebound tachycardia
- severe bradycardia
Radiofrequency catheter ablation could lead to _________ requiring insertion of a ____________.
heart blocks; permanent pacemaker
Digoxin Level is toxic above _____.
2.4
PACs could lead to these dysrhythmias:
A Fib, A Flutter or PSVT
What electrolytes do you always check on a patient with a Run of V Tach?
K+ and Mg++
Causes of V Fib, V Tach, PEA & Asystole
(H’s & T’s!!!)
- Hypovolemia
- Hypoxia
- Hydrogen ions (Acidosis)
- Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypothermia
- Tablets or Toxins (Drug overdose)
- Tension pneumothorax
- Chest Tube
- Thrombosis
- Anti-Thrombolytics
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Trauma
Dysrhythmias are classified according to __________.
site of origin
What does carotid massage do in the heart?
slows SA to AV node conduction which slows the heart rate
What should the nurse do during carotid sinus massage?
Observe rhythm strip
The degrees of block of the heart are differentiated by their ______________.
PR intervals
For an elective cardioversion, digoxin is held for _____ hours.
48