Cardiac Arrhythmias

Question 1

What are the symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias?

Answer 1

Palpitations
Chest pains
Diaphoresis
Dizzy
Dyspnoea
Lethargy
Syncope

Question 2

What is a Normal Sinus Rhythm?

Answer 2

Reflects normal electrical activity.
Rhythm starts in the SA node and heads down the normal conduction pathway.

Question 3

What is sinus tachycardia?

Answer 3

When the SA node fires at a rate slower than normal for that persons age. The impulse still travels in the normal conduction pathway.

Question 4

What is sinus arrhythmia?

Answer 4

When the SA node fires impulses irregularly, the impulse still follows the normal pathway but is irregular.

Question 5

What are some causes of sinus tachycardia?

Answer 5

Shock
Pulmonary embolism
Fever
Anxiety
Exercise
Drugs
Pain
Dehydration
Hypoxia

Question 6

What are some causes of sinus bradycardia?

Answer 6

MI
Vagul Stimulation
Meds
Hypothermia
Hypo/hyperkaleamia
SA node disease
Raised inter cranial pressure
Post heart transplant
Hyperthyroidism

Question 7

What are some causes of sinus arrhythmia?

Answer 7

Drug toxicity
Infection
Electrolyte imbalance
Scar tissue
Stress
Coronary heart disease
Post heart surgery
Medication
Hormones.

Question 8

What are the 3 different atrial conduction abnormalities?

Answer 8

Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Flutter
Premature Atrial complexes (PACs)

Question 9

What is the most common arrhythmia?

Answer 9

Atrial Fibrillation

Question 10

What causes Atrial fibrillation to occur?

Answer 10

Different areas of the atria produce their own impulses spontaneaously causing the atria to fire rapidly.
Causes the heart to quiver resulting in poor atrial contraction.

Question 11

What arrhythmia is irregularly irregular?

Answer 11

AF as there is no P wave on the ECG

Question 12

What sign on an ECG is shown on a pt with Atrial Fibrillation?

Answer 12

No P wave

Question 13

What is atrial flutter?

Answer 13

An arrhythmia where an impulse circles around a large area of tissue such as the entire right atrium site regularly at a very rapid rate.

Question 14

What does Atrial flutter show on an ECG

Answer 14

Produces flutter waves sometimes thought to resemble saw teeth.

Question 15

What is premature atrial complex?

Answer 15

When an area of the atrial (NOT THE SA OR AV NODE) produce an impulse. This beat will appear early, before there next expected beat.

Question 16

Is premature atrial complex a cause for concern?

Answer 16

Not always it can occur ion healthy people and is not always a cause of concern.
Is only an issue if there are several in a row.

Question 17

What are AV heart blocks

Answer 17

When conduction is excessively delayed or stopped at the AV node or the bundle of His.

Question 18

What is first degree heart block?

Answer 18

When impulses from the SA node to the ventricles are delayed (not blocked)

Question 19

What is second degree heart block?

Answer 19

Intermittent disturbance in the conduction between the atrium and ventricles - some impulses are blocked.

Question 20

What is third degree heart block?

Answer 20

Complete block in the conduction of impulses between the atria and ventricles.

Question 21

What are the 4 ventricular conduction abnormalities?

Answer 21

Bundle branch block
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation
PVCS

Question 22

What is premature ventricular complexes (PVCS)

Answer 22

Same as PACs but the impulse originates from an area in the ventricles rather than the atria.
Usually harmless but if frequent it may lead to other arrhythmias.

Question 23

What is Ventricular Tachycardia?

Answer 23

Exists when three of more sequential PVCs occur at a rate of 100bpm or more.

VT may occur without a pulse.

Question 24

What is Ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 24

Patient will be in cardiac arrest.

Chaotic rhythm

May be course or fine VF - depends on amplitude of waves on the ECG.

Question 25

What is a Bundle Branch Block (BBB) ?

Answer 25

Is a disruption in impulse conduction from the bundle of His through either the right or left bundle of Purkinje fibres.

A BBB may be incomplete/complete and intermittent/permanent.

Question 26

What are some causes of Bundle Branch Block?

Answer 26

MI
HTN
PE
Infections