Atrial Fibrillation Flashcards
What is an arrhythmia
An abnormality in rate and or rhythm of the heart
What is the normal heart rate
60-100 bpm
Where does heart rate get generated from
Sino Atrial Node (SA node)
What is another name for normal heart rate
Normal sinus rhythm (SR)
What is the heart rate for tachycardia
> 100 bpm
What is the heart rate for bradycardia
<60 bpm
How are arrhythmias classified to
Heart rate and according to the sites from which they arise
What are supra ventricular tachycardias
Tachycardias that arise from sites above the Bundle of His
What are ventricular tachycardias
Tachycardias that arise from sites below the Bundle of His
Examples of Supraventricular tachycardias
Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)
Paroxismal supraventricular tachycardias (PSVT)
Premature atrial contractions (PACs)
Examples of Ventricular tachycardias
Ventricular tachycardias (VT, V-Tach)
Ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib)
Premature Ventricular contractions (PVCs)
Define ‘flutter’
refers to contractions that are rapid but are co-ordinated
What is Atrial Flutter classed as
Supraventricular arrthymia
What can atrial flutter cause
Bothersome symptoms
promote atrial thrombus formation
potential for systemic embolisation
What does long term atrial flutter result in
result in impaired ventricular function
Why restore sinus rhythm
improves symptoms
decreases risk of embolisation
What are typical complaints of atrial flutter
palpitations
fatigue
lightheadedness
mild shortness of breath
What are less common complaints of atrial flutter
significant dyspnea
angina
hypotension
anxiety
pre syncope (about to faint)
syncope
What occurs in fibrillation
Contractions of different myocardial fibres occurs at different times making coordinated pumping action of chambers impossible
Can atrial flutter become atrial fibrillation
Yes. Atrial flutter often degenerates quickly into atrial fibrillation
What is the purpose of ECG/EKG
ECG records the heart’s electrical activity
Which node gives rise to an electrical signal
Sino atrial node (SA node)
Where is the SA node located
right atrium
Function of SA node
Gives rise to an electrical signal
What does the P wave represent
wave of action potential that are occurring in the atria to cause atrial contraction
