Arrhythmias Flashcards
Name three types of sinus arrhythmia
- sinus arrhythmia
- sinus tachycardia
- sinus bradycardia
Name three supraventricular tachycardia?
- atrial flutter
- atrial fibrillation
- ectopic atrial tachycardia
What are the two types of supraventricular bradycardia?
- sinus bradycardia
- sinus pauses
Name four ventricular arrhythmias
- premature ventricular complexes
- ventricular tachycardia
- ventricular fibrillation
- asystole
Name three AV node arrhythmias
- AV nodal re-entry tachycardia
- AV re-entry tachycardia
- AV block
State six causes of arrhythmias
- abnormal anatomy
- autonomic nervous system
- metabolic
- inflammation
- drugs
- genetics
State six common symptoms of arrhythmias
- palpitations
- SOB
- dizziness
- pre syncope/syncope
- sudden cardiac death
- angina/heart failure
What investigations can be done on a patient with a suspected arrhythmia?
- 12 lead ECG
- ECHO
- stress ECG
- 24 hour ECG
- event recorder
- electrophysical study
What is a sinus bradycardia and what causes it?
HR<60bpm, physiological (athlete), drugs (beta blocker), ischaemia
How is sinus bradycardia treated?
Atropine in an acute setting, in the case of haemodynamic compromise - pacing
What is sinus tachycardia and what causes it?
HR >100bpm, physiological (fever, anxiety) & drugs
How can sinus tachycardia be treated?
- treat underlying cause
- beta blockers
Describe normal sinus arrhythmia
Variation in heart rate due to reflex changes in vagal tone during respiration, inspiration increases vagal tone & HR
Describe ectopic atrial tachycardia
premature beats are caused by ectopic impulses which result in abnormal P waves - inverted or absent
Is treatment required for ectopic atria tachycardia?
No - avoid excessive caffeine and cigarettes
What causes atrial flutter?
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
How can atrial flutter be recognised on an ECG?
sawtooth with absent P waves
Describe atrial fibrillation
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