Arrhythmias Flashcards
Definition of Arrythmias?
They are abnormal heart beats
What are the four cardiac arrest rhythms?
Shockable:
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation
Non shockable:
Pulseless electrical activity
Aystole
Tachycardia treatment summary?
Unstable patient:
Consider 3 synchronised shocks
Consider an amiodorone infusion
Stable patient narrow complex
(QRS<0.12S):
Atrial fibrillation- rate control with beta-blockers
Atrial Flutter- control rate with beta blocker
Stable patient broad complex (QRS>0.12)
Ventricular tachycardia
SVT with bundle branch block
Irregular AF variation
What is Atrial Flutter?
It is a re-enterant rhythm in either atrium.
Associated conditions:
Hypertension
Ischaemic heart disease
Cardiomyopathy
Thyrotoxicosis
Treatment:
Rythm control
Treat underlying issue
Radio-frequency ablation
Anticoagulation
What is supra ventricular tachycardias?
Its caused by electrical signals re - entering the atria from ventricles.
Three main types of SVT:
Atrioventricular nodal re entrant tachycardia
Atriventricular re entrant tachycardia
Atrial tachycardia
What is acute managment of patients with SVT:
Valsalva manoeuvre
Carotid sinus massage
adenosine
Direct current cardioversion
What is wolf parkinson white syndrome?
It is caused by an extra electrical pathway connecting the atria and ventricles
Definitive treatment is radiofrequency ablation of pathway.
ECG changes:
Short PR interval
Delta wave
Wide QRS complex
Torsades de points?
Torsades de points is type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
It happens in patients with prolonged QT interval
It will terminate randomly and return to sinus rhythm or progress to ventricular tachycardia.
