Atrial Arrhythmias

Question 0

Characteristics of sinus tachycardia:

Answer 0

Rate = > 100 bpm - 160/170 bpm
P waves = present but sometimes hard to see - must be able to see
PR interval = present and not more than 3 small square (0.12 secs)
PR ratio = 1:1
QRS complex = normal

Question 1

Characteristics of sinus rhythm:

Answer 1

P wave = 0.08 secs (2 small squares)
PR interval = 0.12-2 secs(3-5 small squares)
Q wave = <0.04 (1 small square)
T wave = 0.16 secs (4 small squares)
QT = 0.32-4 secs (8-10 small squares)

Question 2

Characteristics of sinus arrhythmia:

Answer 2

Rhythm = regularly irregular (fast + slow, fast +slow ect)
Rate = 60-100 bpm
P waves = normal
PR interval = normal
QRS = normal

Question 3

Characteristics of sinus arrest:

Answer 3

Rhythm = irregular when arrest present
Rate = 60-100 bpm
P waves = normal
PR interval = normal
QRS = normal

Question 4

Characteristics of sinus exit block:

Answer 4

Rhythm = irregular when block present
Rate = 60-100 bpm
P waves = normal
PR interval = normal
QRS = normal
Beat comes in late with no P wave (P wave skipped)
Junctional beat

Question 5

Characteristics of sinus bradycardia:

Answer 5

Rate = <60 bpm
Rhythm = regular
P waves = normal
PR interval = 0.12-0.2 secs
QRS = 0.06-0.12 secs

Question 6

Atrial arrhythmias are …

Answer 6

Not life threatening

Question 7

What are classed as regular rhythms?

Answer 7

Sinus rhythm
1st degree AV block
Sinus tachycardia
Atrial tachycardia

Question 8

What is classed as regularly irregular rhythm?

Answer 8

Sinus arrhythmias

Question 9

What are classed as irregular rhythms?

Answer 9

Atrial fibrillation
Premature contractions
Ectopics

Question 10

What is the biological cause of sinus arrhythmias?

Answer 10

Reflex stimulation of the vagal nerve by the lung acuses oscillations in the SA node discharge

Question 11

What is the biological cause of a wandering pacemaker?

Answer 11

Atrial rhythm with a wandering pacemaker focus

Question 12

Characteristics of wandering pacemaker:

Answer 12

Rhythm = irregular
P waves = abnormal, often slurred
PR interval = irregular
QRS and rate = normal

Question 13

What can occur when giving digoxin?

Answer 13

Wandering pacemaker

Question 14

What is the biological cause of sinus arrest?

Answer 14

The SA node forgets to fire, leading to no compensatory beat, just a missed beat

Question 15

What is a junctional beat?

Answer 15

No P wave before a beat

The beat skips the SA node to the AV node

Question 16

What is the causes of sinus bradycardia?

Answer 16

Vagal stimulation
Suction
Press in the groin to stop femoral artery bleed
Hypothermia
Intense exercise
Sleeping
Beta blockers

Question 17

What is the treatment for sinus bradycardia?

Answer 17

Give atropine to speed up heart rate and give fluids if prescribed

Question 18

What is important to remember when a pt has sinus bradycardia?

Answer 18

The pt has to be symptomatic in order to be treated

Question 19

What rhythm should every pt be ideally in after having an MI?

Answer 19

Sinus bradycardia

Question 20

What are the causes of sinus tachycardia?

Answer 20

Children
Exercise
Stress
Anxiety
Hypovelimia
Illegal drugs
Fluid overload
Caffeine
Adrenaline
Pain