Cardiac Arrhythmias Flashcards
Sinus Brady
Sinus Brady Causes
Can occur in response to parasympathetic nerve stimulation and certain drugs
Also associated with some disease states
(Normal rhythm in aerobically trained athletes and during sleep)
Sinus Brady Manifestations
Hypotension
Pale, cool skin
Weakness
Angina
Dizziness or syncope
Confusion or disorientation
Shortness of breath
Sinus Brady Treaments
Stop offending drugs
IV Atropine
Pacemaker
Dopamine or epinephrine infusion
Sinus Tachy
Sinus Tachy causes
Caused by vagal inhibition or sympathetic stimulation
Associated with physiologic and psychologic stressors
Drugs can increase rate
Manifestations of Sinus Tachy
Dizziness
Dyspnea
Hypotension
Angina in patients with CAD
Sinus Tachy treatment
Guided by cause (e.g., treat pain)
Vagal maneuver
β-blockers, adenosine, or calcium channel blockers
Synchronized cardioversion
A patient’s cardiac rhythm is sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 34 beats/min. If the bradycardia is symptomatic, the nurse would expect the patient to exhibit:
Palpitations.
Hypertension.
Warm, flushed skin.
Shortness of breath.
SOB
Premature Atrial Contraction (1 of 4)
What is PAC?
Contraction starting from ectopic focus in atrium in location other than SA node
Travels across atria by abnormal pathway, creating distorted P wave
May be stopped, delayed, or conducted normally at the AV node
Premature Atrial Contraction Causes
Emotional stress
Physical fatigue
Caffeine
Tobacco
Alcohol
Hypoxia
Electrolyte imbalances
Disease states
PAC Manifestations
Palpitations
Heart “skips a beat”
Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT) (1 of 4)
PSVT def
Reentrant phenomenon: PAC triggers a run of repeated premature beats
Paroxysmal refers to an abrupt onset and ending
Associated with overexertion, stress, deep inspiration, stimulants, disease, digitalis toxicity
PSVT Manifestations
Manifestations
HR is 151 to 220 beats/min
HR greater than 180 leads to decreased cardiac output and stroke volume
Hypotension
Palpitations
Dyspnea
Angina
PSVT Treatment
Vagal stimulation
IV adenosine
IV β-blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Synchronized cardioversion
Pulse pressure of Pt
SBP - DBP = 40 or greater
If pulse pressure is less than 40
Pt has decreased cardiac output
If pulse pressure greater than 60
Cause due to atherosclerosis
Propertis of cell:
Automaticity = Potassium in/out
Excitability = to electrically stimulate
Contractility = mechanically to impulse
Conductivity = Mechanical
SA node (Pacemaker) > AV node (Gatekeeper) > Bundle of HIS > Purkinje fibers of heart
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ST segnment Repolarization