Arrhythmias Flashcards
Sinus Tachycardia
Characteristics of EKG
Normal P and QRS,
regular, fast heart rate >100bpm
Sinus Tachycardia
Causes
Sympathetic activation:
1) Exercise
2) emotion
3) hypotension,
4) acute lung pathology (pneumonia/cholecy)
5) thyrotoxicosis
Sinus Tachycardia
Treatment
Usually none
B blockers in thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid hormone)
Sinus Tachycardia symptom
symptom = angina
Sinus Bradycardia
Characteristics of EKG
Normal P, QRS,
regular slow HR< 60bpm
Sinus Bradycardia
Causes
Athletics
Vagotonic state (parasympathetic) - faint (Vagovagal episodes)
- sick sinus syndrome (sinus rate slows, ventricle stiffer, low SV)
- inferior infarct (increased vagal activity)
Sinus Bradycardia
Treatment
none
atropine
pacemaker if sx
Sinus Bradycardia
symptoms
symptom = syncope, lightheadedness,
fatigue in elderly (sick sinus)
Sinus Rhythm
Characteristics of EKG
P before QRS, P upright in 2,
down in avR, 60-100 bpm
Atrial Fibrillation
Characteristics of EKG
1) No P wave but chaotic atrial depol at > 350b/min
2) irregular QRS (irregular R-R interval)
“irregularly irregular QRS”
Look for squiggles at baseline
Atrial Fibrillation
causes
1) aging (fibrosis of atria –> re-entry)
2) post operative (stress response)
3) heart disease (mitral valve disease/ DCM)
4) hyperthyroidism
5) Lone AFib = normal subjects (w/ stress)
Atrial Fibrillation
complications
Rapid HR
1) ischemia
2) heart failure
Loss of Atrial contraction
1) heart failure
Atrial thrombi
1) embolic stroke
Atrial Fibrillation
treatment
1) anticoagulation
2) rate control with drugs (B blockers, Ca 2+ channel blockers @ AV node)
3) cardioversion
4) ablation
Rhythm control (I,III,cardioversion, ablation, shock)
Atrial Fibrillation
picture
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Atrial Tachycardia
Characteristics of EKG
Abnormal P waves with narrow QRS
FAST rhythm. > 150/min
Atrial Tachycardia
causes
Patient in a little distress (nervous/agitated),
structural heart disease
Atrial Tachycardia
complications
not in notes
Atrial Tachycardia
treatment
1) adenosine (quick decr SA and AV node)
2) vagal manuever (stim vagus, slow rate via baroreceptor)
3) beta blocker
4) verapamil or diltiazem
Atrial Tachycardia
picture
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Atrial Flutter
Characteristics of EKG
1) Sawtooth pattern
2) P wave rate ↑200ish (240-320/min)
3) regular or irregular pulse
Atrial Flutter
causes
Structural heart disease
Atrial Flutter
complications
Embolic stroke,
rapid ventricular rates that are poorly tolerated
Atrial Flutter
treatments
1) Anticoagulation (to prevent risk of clot)
2) Adenosine,
3) rate control (verapamil, diltiazem)
4) cardioversion
5) ablation
(if have slow AV too - βB, Ca 2+ Blocker- so 1:1 recovery isn’t too fast = syncope),
Atrial Flutter
picture
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Premature Atrial Contraction (atrial premature beat)
Characteristics of EKG
Premature beat preceded by ABNORMAL P wave, narrow (normal) QRS