Anti-arrhythmic drugs: Vfib, Bradycardia, Cardiac arrest Flashcards
What is cardiac arrest?
Cessation of cardiac mechanical activity (pulseless, unresponsive, apneic)
Half of cardiac arrests happen where?
Outside of the hospital (in public, witnessed or non-witnessed)
Survival rates of cardiac arrest?
Low, higher w/ witnessed arrest (7-8%)
Hospital survival rates of cardiac arrest?
Higher due to rapid response, defibrillation, if shockable rhythm
What are the most common etiologies in adult arrest?
VFib and pulseless Vtach
(typically ischemic heart disease, blood is fully oxygenated at arrest)
What are the most common etiologies in pediatric arrest?
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole
(typically acute respiratory failure, asphyxiation, patient is typically hypoxemic/hypotensive)
Which drugs affect phase 0 of the cardiac cycle (Na+ inward flow/depolarozation)?
Na+ channel blockers
Strong: Flecainide, Propafenone
Moderate: Quinidine, Procainimide, Mexiletine
Weak: Lidocaine, Phenytoin
Which drugs affect phase 2 of the cardiac cycle (Ca2+ inward flow, K+ outward flow, Plateau phase)?
CCBs: Verapamil, Diltiazem
Which drugs affect phase 3 of the cardiac cycle (K+ outward flow, Ca2+ starts to close, Rapid repolarization)?
K+ channel blockers: Amiodarone, Sotalol
Also Dofetilide, Dronedarone
Which drugs affect phase 4 of the cardiac cycle (resting potential)?
BBs: Propanolol, Metoprolol, Atenolol, Esmolol
What are relatively stable tachycardias?
Sinus tachy, AV-nodal re-entry SVT
Are relatively stable tachycardias easier to manage with rate control?
Yes
How to manage patient with symptomatic tachycardia that is unstable?
Synchronized cardioversion
How to manage patient with acute symptomatic tachycardia that is stable?
Determine if QRS is wide or narrow
If narrow: (<120) w/ regular ventricular rhythm –>Adenosine is drug of choice, if failure to respond –> BB (IV esmolol, PO metoprolol or atenolol) or CCB (Non-DHPs)
Avoid Adenosine in what kind of tachycardia?
Unstable (narrow or wide) or irregular
How to manage a stable patient with symptomatic tachycardia w/ narrow complex, A-fib, SVT, or sinus tachy w/ irregular ventricular rhythm (usually A-fib)?
General: focus on control of rapid ventricular rate (BB or CCB preferred), goal HR <110bpm
How to manage an unstable patient with symptomatic tachycardia w/ narrow complex (A-fib, SVT, or sinus tachy) w/ irregular ventricular rhythm?
Cardioversion preferred (can be electrical or pharmacologic)
If A-fib is present for more than 48 hours (time is takes for a clot to form), what is the patient at risk for?
Cardioembolic event, get TEE to rule out emboli
Which BBs are B-1 selective?
Esmolol, Metoprolol, Atenolol
What are beta-blocker blues?
Fatigue/depression that may occur as a result of BB therapy
What are the unstable tachycardias?
Wide-complex monomorphic VT, Torsades de pointes
How are unstable tachycardias managed?
Carefully managed w/ multiple agents including antiarrhythmetics
Symptomatic tachycardias with a wide complex (>120ms) are usually what?
Ventricular arrhythmias
Which medications can be used in V-tach with regular rhythm?
-Adenosine first line (ONLY IF REGULAR RATE), avoid if unstable/irregular!!!
-Procainamide, Amiodarone, or Sotalol (If QTc is <500)
Which is the risk of V-tach with irregular rhythm and QTc >500 ?
Usually can turn into Torsades
How to manage V-tach with irregular rhythm and unstable vitals?
Immediate defibrillation
Treatment of V-tach with irregular rhythm and QTc >500 that turns into Torsades?
Magnesium sulfate bolus (trying to correct electrolytes and stabilize action potential)