Antiarrythmics (Cardio and Renal 2) Flashcards
4 classes of Antiarrhythmics
- Na+ Channels Blockers
- Beta Blockers
- K+ Channels Blockers
- Calcium channel Blocker
1 & 3 - big guns for life threatening situations
2 and 4 - toy guns
Antiarrhythmics: Miscellaneous Drugs
Adenosine
Digoxin
Magnesium Sulfate
Heart Action Potentials - Phase 0
Depolarization
Increase Na+ current
Heart Action Potentials - Phase 1
Overshoot
Initial repolarization inactivation of Na+ channel
Decrease K+
Heart Action Potentials - Phase 2
Plateau
Increase Ca2+
Decrease K+ currents
Heart Action Potentials - Phase 3
Repolarization
Decrease K+ current
Heart Action Potentials - Phase 4
Resting potential
Maintained by Na+/K+ ATPase Pump
Electrophysiological Properties of the Heart (1 of 4) - Responsiveness
Capacity of a cell to depolarize
Depends on the # of Na+ channels in ready state
Electrophysiological Properties of the Heart (2 of 4) - Conductance
Rate of spread of an impulse (conduction velocity)
Depends on: Vmax, Threshold potential, and resting membrane potential
Electrophysiological Properties of the Heart (3 of 4) - Automaticity
Ability to spontaneously depolarize
Electrophysiological Properties of the Heart (4 of 4) - Refractoriness (Refractory HTN)
Inability to respond to a stimulus
Electrophysiological Properties of the Heart - Refractoriness
Effective Refractory Period (ERP) - Period during which no stimulus of any size will produce a response (Arrhythmia: Decrease ERP -> formation of premature impulse)
Relative Refractory Period (RRP) - a STRONG impulse may elicit a response
Measuring Refractory: ERP / Action Potential Duration (APD)
Decreased ERP –> Formation of premature impulses
The sodium channel exists in 3 states
- Resting or ready state
- Open or active state
- Inactivated or refractory state
The sodium channel is a voltage channel with 2 gates:
- M (activating)
2. h (inactivating) gate
Mechanism of Arrhythmia Formation: Abnormalities in impulse Formation
SA Node: Increase symp –> Tach
SA Node: increase parasym –> brady
Purkinje fibers
Mechanism of Arrhythmia Formation: Abnormalities in impulse Conduction (2)
Ectopic foci
Re-entry mechanisms
Mechanism of Arrhythmia Formation: Conduction block (A-V block) - 3 types
1st Degree - prolonged PR Interval (> .20 sec)
2nd Degree:
Mobitz I - Above AV node = intermittent failure of AV conduction
*PR lengthens before beat is dropped
Mobitz II - Unpredictable loss of AV conduction * Constant PR interval, but beats are dropped
3rd Degree - Failure of any impulses to be conducted from atria to ventricles
* Atria and Ventricle beat independently of each other (all over the place)