Arrhythmias Flashcards
abnormalities of the electric rhythm
arrhythmias
why do arrhythmias happen? (7)
Hypoxia
Ischemia
Sympathetic stimulation
Bradycardia
Electrolyte disturbance
Drugs
Stretch
what does an abnormal number of P waves for every QRS complex suggest?
AV nodal block
what does it mean if P waves are not identical?
another pacemaker cell is firing
what does a narrow QRS complex mean?
impulse came from supraventricular rhtyhm
what does a wide QRS complex indicate?
impulses transmitted by direct cell to cell contact
what slows rate by stimulating the vagus nerve and can end arrhythmias?
carotid massage
arrhythmias in which electrical activity follows the usual conduction pathway
arrhythmias of sinus origin
arrhythmia in which electrical activity originates from a focus other than the sinus node
ectopic rhythm
arrhythmia in which electrical activity is trapped within an electrical racetrack whose shape and boundaries are determined by various anatomic or electrical myocardial configurations. These can occur anywhere in the heart.
reentrant arrhythmias
arrhythmia in which electrical activity originates in the sinus node and follows the usual pathways but encounters unexpected blocks and delays
conduction blocks
arrhythmia in which electrical activity follows anomalous accessory conduction pathways that bypass the normal ones
preexcitation syndromes
what speeds up and slows down the heart rate in a sinus arrhythmia, respectively?
inspiration
expiration
SA node discharge rate greater than 100 bpm that most often results from increased sympathetic and/or decreased vagal tone
sinus tachycardia
SA node discharge less than 60 bmp that can result from enhanced vagal tone and cause fainting
sinus bradycardia
what medications cause sinus bradycardia? (3)
beta blocker
CCBs
opioids
what is the most common rhythm disturbance seen in the early stages of an AMI?
sinus bradycardia
variation in heart rate that accompanies inspiration and expiration
sinus arrhythmia
a delay in the SA node that leads to delayed depolarization and contraction
atrial escape beat
how could a P wave in atrial escape beat look? (2)
flattened
notched
P wave of ectopic beat that occurs early and can be flatted or notched, and may be lost in the preceding T wave
premature atrial contractions
a contraction where the P wave could be buried in the QRS or show up after the QRS
junctional premature beat
what is frequently the inciting event to paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and will reset the SA node?
premature atrial contractions
pre-atrial contractions that can last a few seconds to days, in which the SA node gives up and another place in the atria picks up the slack by pacing the heart
ectopic atrial rhythm
what would be seen in an ectopic atrial rhythm?
P wave may be negative in 1, 2, and aVF
what does an upside down P wave tell us?
depolarization started at the bottom of the atria
formation of a reentry circuit, or dual electrical pathways confined to the AV node
atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)
what kind of depolarization / refractory period would a slow pathway in AVNRT produce?
slow depolarization / short refractory period
what kind of depolarization / refractory period would a fast pathway in AVNRT produce?
fast depolarization / long refractory period
what is the most common symptom of AVNRT?
palpitations