Arrhythmias and drugs Flashcards
define cardiac aryhthmias? what causes it to arise?
abnormal heart rhythm
Arise due to disturbance of impulse generation or impulse conduction or both
what r supraventricular tachycardias?
tachycardias which arises due to problems in the Atria or AV node
what r the actions of of drugs in the CVS?
( what do they alter?)
- rate of rythem
- force of contraction
- Periphersal resistance
- BV
causes of arryhtemias?
explain the phenomenon of “Re-entry”
NOrMALLY>>> electrical impulses reached scarred area in the heart and went around, it but bc electrical conduction is the same in both sides, both impulses reached the end point at the same time and both moved forward. and cancelled out
ok…..
patient with IHD>>>electrical impulse is moving around the dead area, but this dead region has a scarred area! the impulse on one side cannot move forward lana fee block. and on the other side, the impulse will go around noramlly then pass the blocked area. this current will start moving around the dead area over and over again!
if the total time to move around the circle is longer than the time for the block to come out of it refractory period…then the imoulses will start moving around in circles rapidly!= this is called circus movement. it’ll keep on throwing cardiac impulses with every circle to the heart and TACHYARRYHTMEIAS can occur!
Describe the mechanism w/ “triggered activity”
In triggered automacity, after a spontaneoud depolarisation, theres 7alat il triggered depolerization, which can be eithe early or late!
sometimes a new AP is taken off at a very early time> this is called early after depolarization!
or somtimes the RMP is flunctuating causes threshold to be reached faster! causing Delayed after depolarisation
what can cause early after depolarisations?
how would this change on an ECG? on the graph?
if the AP is prolinged
u get longer QT
what can cause delayed after depolarisation?
how would the graph changed?
if the mycoardium cells beomc eischemicor injured, or if they load alot of cations! lots of Ca2+
when more and more r loaded>> causes RMP to flunctuate alot
RMP cannot rest!
Explain the normal Ventricular AP
what r the 4 basic classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs. (in order)
- Drugs that block voltage-sensitive Na+ channels
- Antagonists of β-adrenoreceptors
- Drugs that block K+ channels
- Drugs that block Ca+ channels
other:
Adenosine
antiarrythmetic drugs have the ability to aggravate or cause arrythmeias under certain conditions and must be used with care!
ok
Name Drugs which block voltage-dependant Na+ channels
when do we use them?
anesthetic lidocaine
Sometimes used following MI
– only if patient shows signs of ventricular tachycardia – given intravenously
Name Drugs that r Antagonists of β-adrenoreceptors ?
what r their effects on the heart? What do they do?
when do we use it?
• Slow conduction in AV node
– Can prevent supraventricular tachycardias
– Slows ventricular rate in patients with AF
• After MI
– MI causes increased sympathetic activity
– β-blockers prevent ventricular arrhythmias
– Arrhythmias may be partly due to increased sympathetic activity
• Reduces O2 demand
– Reduces myocardial ischaemia
– Beneficial following MI
how does the slope of the SA node change in the graph when administering a B blocker??
Name drugs that block K+ channels?
what r their effects?
in prolongs the AP, making absolute refractory period longer!
which drug belongs to more than one class?
which drug is used to treat tachycardia associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome ?
amiodarone
which drug class are not generally used because they can be also be pro-arrythmatic?
Drugs that block K+ channels
Drugs that block Ca2+ channels ? effects?
how will this effect slope of SA node?
Decreases slope of AP at SA node
decrease force of contraction ( - inotropy)
calcium channel blocked,,,snaaaa 3laa bal ma Calcium yirafa3 the slope!
which Ca2+ blockers is not effective in preventing arrhythmias, but do act on vascular smooth muscle
Dihyrdropyridine
name some Ca channel blockers
what r cardiac Glycosides? when do we use it? give example, mechanism of action
Digoxin
more Na will be trapped inside>> causing more Ca to be trapped inside>> Increased force of contraction
which drug is a positive inotrope but will slow conduction at the AV node
Cardiac glycoside
Actions of cardiac glycosides on heart rate
They have a mechanical effect + electrical effect!
- Mechanical = improve contractility of failing heart
- Electrical= prolong refractory time of AV node in patient w/ supraventricular arryhthmias!
– stimulate VAGUS NERVE!> reduces sympathetic activitiy
– slows AV conduction
– slows the HR