Antiarrhythmic Drugs Flashcards
1
Q
Slow response fibers
A
- Found in SA and AV nodes
- Resting potential -65 to -45mv
- Phase 0 upstroke has less of a slope compared to fast response fibers due to slow inward movement of Ca2+
- Repolarization is a combination of phases 1-3 and due to K+ efflux from the cell
- Phase 4 slope due to increased influx of Na+ and Ca2+, and decreased efflux of K+
2
Q
Fast response fibers
A
- Found in atrial and ventricular muscle, and His/purkinje fibers
- Resting membrane potential -80 to -95mv
- Steep slope of phase 0 due to large Na+ influx via fast Na+ channels, up to +20 to +30mv
- Plateau phase 2 due to slow Ca2+ channel influx
- Atrial and ventricular muscle to not normally display phase 4 sloping (automaticity) but may do so under conditions of ischemia and sympathetic stimulation; His/purkinje fibers do display some phase 4 sloping and pacemaker behavior.
3
Q
Excitability Definition
A
- The measure of strength of the stimulus necessary to cause an action potential
- It is inversely proportional to the difference b/w the resting potential and the threshold potential (E = 1 / (RP - TP)
- Sympathetic increase, while parasympathetic decrease excitability
4
Q
Responsiveness Definition
A
- A measure of the slope of phase 0
5
Q
Conduction Definition
A
- The rate of movement of an impulse from one cell to the next or one tissue to the next
- It is also related to the slope of phase 0
6
Q
Conduction rates of different cardiac tissues
A
- Atria: 1 m/sec
- AV node: 0.1 m/sec
- His/purkinje: 1-2 m/sec
- Ventricle: 0.4 m/sec
7
Q
Effective Refractory Period
A
- Phase 1, 2 and part of 3, another stimulus at this time will not generate an action potential
8
Q
Relative Refractory Period
A
- From end of ERP to beginning of phase 4; larger than normal stimulus may produce another action potential
9
Q
ERP/Action Potential Duration ratio
A
- Useful for comparisons of normal and a arrhythmic tissues
10
Q
Automaticity
A
- The slope of phase 4
- Sympathetic stimulation increases
- Parasympathetic decreases
11
Q
Mechanisms of Cardiac Arrhythmias
A
- Abnormal automaticity
- Triggered automaticity
- Reentry
12
Q
Abnormal Automaticity Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmia
A
- SA node develops increased automaticity and heart rate increases, e.g. sinus tachycardia or the SA node develops decreased automaticity and heart rate decreases, sinus bradycardia
- Latent pacemaker acquires increased automaticity and fires faster than the SA node- this is an ectopic beat that is premature in terms of normal rhythm, or the SA node develops function. These are referred to as escape beats, which terminate the pause caused, by cessation of, or slowing of, the normal firing rate.
13
Q
Triggered Automaticity Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmia
A
14
Q
Reentry Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmia
A
- Reentry a common mechanism involving the development of a reentrant loop that is a self-sustaining electrical circuit which repeatedly depolarizes surrounding tissues. Reentry usually leads to tachyarrhythmias
- Conduction block- fibrosis, ischemia or trauma may create a block where one part of the conduction system loses continuity w/ the remainder of the pathway. Escape beats usually result as more distal sites assume pacemaker function. AV conduction blocks are examples.
- Bypass tracts- most commonly involves an additional or accessory tract that bypasses the AV node. The accessory tract conducts rapidly and the normal conduction delay at the AV node does not take place. A loop is created w/ the accessory tract serving as one limb and the normal AV pathway as the other. This may set the stage for reentry rhythms. The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) involves this type of bypass tract at the AV node.
15
Q
Types of Arrhythmias
A
- Normal Sinus Rhythm
- Sinus Bradycardia
- Sinus Tachycardia
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Paroxysmal (Supraventricular) Atrial Tachycardia (PAT)
- Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC)
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
16
Q
Normal Sinus Rhythm
A
- SA node controls the heart
- 70 beats/min
- PQRST connected
17
Q
Sinus Bradycardia
A
- SA node controls the heart
- <60 beats/min
- Caused by athletic conditioning, hypothermia
- PQRST still connected, just beating more slowly
18
Q
Sinus Tachycardia
A
- SA node controlling
- >100 beats/min
- Caused by excessive catacholaminergic activity
- Ex: pheochromocytoma, anxiety and fever
19
Q
Atrial Flutter
A
- Atria beating rapidly, >300 beats/min
- 2 P-waves/ORS complex
- AV node is protecting the ventricles by only letting every other impulse through
20
Q
Atrial Fibrillation
A
- No effective contraction of atria, blood move passively into ventricles AV node protects ventricle from rapid beating
21
Q
Parosyxmal (Supraventricular) Atrial Tachycardia (PAT)
A
- Ectopic foci takes over in atria
- Sudden starts and stops
- Tachycardia
22
Q
Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC)
A
- An ectopic focus from ventricle takes over
- Ventricular beat followed by a pause, then goes back to sinus rhythm
23
Q
Ventricular Tachycardia
A
- Ventricles completely take over
- Torsade de Pointes
24
Q
Ventricular Fibrillation
A
- Worst case scenario
- No effective contraction of ventricles
- Incompatible w/ life