Arrhythmias Flashcards
Define supraventricular arrhythmia?
- above the ventricles
- SAN, Atrial muscle, AVN
Explain ventricular arrhythmia
- arises from within the ventricles
Explain atrioventricular arrhythmias
- AVN
- e.g. AV re-entry
What are some causes of arrhythmias?
- left ventricular hypertrophy
- accessory pathways
- congenital heart defects
- ANS
- inflammation
- drugs
What is an ectopic beat?
- beats or rhythm that originates in places other than SA node
Explain a re-entry arrhythmia?
- requires more than one conduction pathway
- 2 different speeds
- 2 different refractory periods
- fast conduction, long refractory
- slow conduction, short refractory
- premature beat
What investigation should be done into arrythmias?
- 12 lead ECG
- CXR
- echo
- 24hr hotler monitor
Explain sinus bradycardia?
- HR<60bpm
What drug could be given to someone with bradycardia?
- atropine
Explain sinus tachycardia?
- HR> 100bpm
What drug could be given to someone with tachycardia?
- b-blockers
Explain radiofrequency catheter ablation?
- insertion of ECG catheter in femerol vein
- catherter placed over focus and heated
Explain first degree heart block?
- prolonged PR interval
- constant interval
What is a normal PR interval?
- 12-0.20 seconds
- less than 5 small squares
Explain 2nd degree heart block mobitz 1
- prolonged PR interval, gradually gets longer
- beat dropped
Explain 2nd degree heart block mobitz 2
- prolonged PR interval, remains constant
- beat dropped
What are the 2 types of 2nd degree heart blocks?
- mobitz 1
- mobitz 2
What would ventricular tachycardia look like?
- prolonged QRS complex
- treat with DCCV (direct current cardioversion)
What is 3rd degree heart block?
- the P waves and QRS are completely independant of each other
- they are at regular intervals though
- ventricular pacing is required
How are cardiac arrhythmias generated?
- alterations in impulse formation
- abnormalities in impulse conduction