Arrhythmias Flashcards

1
Q

Name three types of sinus arrhythmia

A
  • sinus arrhythmia
  • sinus tachycardia
  • sinus bradycardia
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2
Q

Name three supraventricular tachycardia?

A
  • atrial flutter
  • atrial fibrillation
  • ectopic atrial tachycardia
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3
Q

What are the two types of supraventricular bradycardia?

A
  • sinus bradycardia

- sinus pauses

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4
Q

Name four ventricular arrhythmias

A
  • premature ventricular complexes
  • ventricular tachycardia
  • ventricular fibrillation
  • asystole
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5
Q

Name three AV node arrhythmias

A
  • AV nodal re-entry tachycardia
  • AV re-entry tachycardia
  • AV block
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6
Q

State six causes of arrhythmias

A
  • abnormal anatomy
  • autonomic nervous system
  • metabolic
  • inflammation
  • drugs
  • genetics
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7
Q

State six common symptoms of arrhythmias

A
  • palpitations
  • SOB
  • dizziness
  • pre syncope/syncope
  • sudden cardiac death
  • angina/heart failure
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8
Q

What investigations can be done on a patient with a suspected arrhythmia?

A
  • 12 lead ECG
  • ECHO
  • stress ECG
  • 24 hour ECG
  • event recorder
  • electrophysical study
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9
Q

What is a sinus bradycardia and what causes it?

A

HR<60bpm, physiological (athlete), drugs (beta blocker), ischaemia

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10
Q

How is sinus bradycardia treated?

A

Atropine in an acute setting, in the case of haemodynamic compromise - pacing

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11
Q

What is sinus tachycardia and what causes it?

A

HR >100bpm, physiological (fever, anxiety) & drugs

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12
Q

How can sinus tachycardia be treated?

A
  • treat underlying cause

- beta blockers

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13
Q

Describe normal sinus arrhythmia

A

Variation in heart rate due to reflex changes in vagal tone during respiration, inspiration increases vagal tone & HR

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14
Q

Describe ectopic atrial tachycardia

A

premature beats are caused by ectopic impulses which result in abnormal P waves - inverted or absent

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15
Q

Is treatment required for ectopic atria tachycardia?

A

No - avoid excessive caffeine and cigarettes

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16
Q

What causes atrial flutter?

A

Re-entry due to an area of slowed conduction near the IVC - the atria conduct much more than the ventricles as every 2nd/3rd impulses passes through the AV node to the ventricles

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17
Q

How can atrial flutter be recognised on an ECG?

A

sawtooth with absent P waves

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18
Q

Describe atrial fibrillation

A

Multiple chaotic impulses initiated randomly from ectopic sites in the atria. The AV node is unable to conduct all APs leading to reduced conduction to ventricles

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19
Q

How can AF be recognised on an ECG?

A

no P waves, narrow QRS, irregularly irregular rhythm

20
Q

In the case of acute supraventricular tachycardias what is the treatment?

A
  • Increase vagal tone by vagal manoeuvres
  • Diving Reflex
  • Slow AVN conduction by IV adenosine/verapamil
21
Q

What is the treatment for chronic supraventricular arrhythmias?

A
  • avoid stimulants
  • EP study & radio frequency ablation
  • beta blockers
  • anti- arrhythmic drugs
22
Q

Describe AV Nodal Re-entrant tachycardia

A

Accessory pathway between atrium and AV node, rapid but normal QRS complexes are followed immediately by a p wave

23
Q

Describe AV re-entrant tachycardia

A

Accessory pathway between atria and ventricles can lead to Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome which has a delta wave

24
Q

What is the accessory pathway called in WPW syndrome?

A

Bundle of Kent

25
Q

What will WPW syndrome look like on an ECG?

A
  • short PR
  • delta wave
  • long QRS
  • T inversion
26
Q

State some causes of heart block (won’t remember them all)

A

Ageing, acute MI, myocarditis, infiltrative disease, drugs, calcific aortic valve disease, post-aortic valve surgery, genetics

27
Q

Describe 1st degree heart block

A

slowed conduction, PR interval is longer but does not require treatment

28
Q

Describe 2nd degree heart block

A

Mobitz type 1 - PR interval increases until a beat drops

Mobitz type 2 - PR is the same but a beat drops every 2/3 beats

29
Q

Describe third degree heart block

A

No APs from SA node get to the AV node so P waves without QRS may be seen

30
Q

What causes premature ventricular contractions?

A

Structural - LVH & HF

Metabolic - IHB & electrolytes

31
Q

How can premature ventricular contractions be treated?

A

Beta blockers & ablation

32
Q

What causes ventricular tachycardia?

A

usually significant heart disease, CAD, previous MI

33
Q

State some rarer causes of VT

A
  • long QT syndrome, Brugada or cardiomyopathy
34
Q

What are the two types of VT?

A

Monomorphic & Polymorphic

35
Q

Describe the difference between mono and poly morphic VT

A

monomorphic - all QRS look the same & impulses all come from the same place in the heart
polymorphic - all QRS look different & impulses come from different parts of the heart

36
Q

Give an example of a polymorphic VT

A

torsades de pointes

37
Q

What is the treatment for acute VT?

A

Defibrillation if unstable
Anti-arrhythmic drugs if stable
Correct triggers

38
Q

What is the long term treatment of VT?

A

revascularisation
anti arrhythmic drugs
ICD
VT catheter ablation

39
Q

Define ventricular fibrillation

A

Chaotic ventricular electrical activity means the heart cannot pump

40
Q

What is the treatment for VF?

A

defibrillation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation

41
Q

What happens in asystole?

A

There are no ventricular contractions

42
Q

What effect does AF have on perfusion & CO?

A

It reduces diastole where the coronary arteries are perfused this leads to ischaemia. It also reduced ventricular filling & cardiac output

43
Q

What are the three types of AF?

A

Paroxysmal/episodic
Persistent
Permanent

44
Q

Describe paroxysmal AF

A

lasts less than 48 hours, often recurrent

45
Q

Describe persistent AF

A

more than 48 hours, can be cardioverted but unlikely to spontaneously revert

46
Q

Describe permanent AF

A

inability of treatment to restore NSR

47
Q

What is the general management for AF?

A

Rate & Rhythm control

Anti-coagulation