Arrythmias + ECG Findings Flashcards
3 categories of arrhythmias?
Sinus node abnormalities
Supraventricular arrhythmias
Ventricular arrhythmias
Sinus node abnormalities?
Sinus bradycardia
Sinus tachycardia
Main feature of sinus node abnormalities?
P-waves remain associated with QRS complexes confirming normal functioning of cardiac conduction
Supraventricular arrhythmias?
Atrial ectopic beats Paroxysmal tachycardias Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Atrial flutter Atrial fibrillation
What are paroxysmal tachycardias?
Narrow complexes generated below the sino-atrial node but above the ventricles
What is Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?
A separate pathway to the atrioventricular node allows pre-excitation and re-entry
What is atrial flutter caused by?
Caused by a re-entry pathway allowing rapid re-firing of the ventricles
- rate of 300/min is typical
The AVN will often block some of the beats and additional P-waves appear at a regular rate of 300/min between QRS complexes
What is atrial fibrillation?
A form of supraventricular arrhythmia characterised by an irregular heart rate
Ventricular arrhythmias?
Ventricular ectopic beats
Torsade de pointes
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation
What does a broad QRS complex tachycardia indicate?
- Ventricular arrhythmia
- Supraventricular arrhythmia with bundle branch block
How does AVN re-entry tachycardia occur?
Occurs when two pathways co-exist within the AVN
- the 2 pathways may have differing delays which, in total, present a raised heart rate of between 140-220bpm
How are AVN re-entry tachycardias managed?
Adenosine or verapamil
- causes iatrogenic AVN delay