Arrhythmias Flashcards
Sinus Tachycardia
Normal acceleration of heartbeat. Breaks w/ carotid sinus massage
Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Control Order
Parasympathetic always removed or added first
Right vs. L Carotid Massage
R has greater influence on sinus node, slowing HR
L has less slowing of HR, but instead slows conduction and can eventually lead to heart block
PAC ECG Sign
Distortion of T wave
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia (ECG sign and comorbidity)
At least 3 P wave morphologies - 1 for sinus, and then multiple other ones). Often w/ chronic lung disease
Paroxysmal and Supraventricular
Sudden onset and offset and anything that involves atrium or higher (can include vent too)
Ablation Site for AV Nodal Re-Entrant Tachycardia
Atrial approaches to AV share the same properties as the pathways they lead to. So can ablate there w/out fucking up AV node
CSM on Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Increases vagal tone so fucks up timing and breaks it
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (what it is, why, how it disappears)
PSVT due to Kent Bundle, an accessory pathway that shouldn’t be there. Brings ventricular depol around through atrium again (bc conducts faster than AV node) and hits AV node again. Disappears w/ premature atrial beat
3 Drugs for Arrhythmia Management (important point for one)
BBs, Ca channel blockers, and Digoxin (EXCEPT WPW)
Most Common Procedure for PSVTs
Catheter ablation. Curative
Atrial Flutter (what it is, vent effect, and 2 signs)
Re-entrant circuit rotating in atrial septum at about 300/minute. AV slower, so vent rates at a multiple like 150 or 75/minute. Sawtooth configuration of atrial activity on EKG. CSM slows vent rate but doesn’t interrupt flutter
Afib (origin and sustaining)
Caused by little focal rings of atrial tissue in pulmonary veins which fire rapidly, initiating lots of little circuits throughout atrium to start circling independently
Biggest Risk w/ Afib
Thrombo-embolic
2 Kinds of Afib
“Fine” Afib - just get irregular vent response
“Flutter” Afib - chaotic, faster than 300
