Cardiac arrhythmias + ionotropes Flashcards
Anti-arrhythmic drugs - class I
[sodium channel blockers]
block sodium channels responsible for rapid depolarisation
slow down upstroke of cardiac AP + conduction
Anti-arrhythmic drugs - class II
[beta blockers]
block effects of adrenaline and cause heart to beat more slowly
Anti-arrhythmic drugs - class III
drugs that prolong AP duration by blocking voltage-activated K+ channels in depolarisation of phase 3 cardiac AP
reduces cardiac excitability + prevents abnormal heart rhythms
Anti-arrhythmic drugs - class IV
[calcium channel blockers]
slow down conduction at AV node
Anti-arrhythmic drugs - outside Vaughan Williams Classification
adrenaline - cardiac arrest
atropine - 2nd/3rd degree AV block
isoprenaline - 2nd/3rd degree block
adenosine - via adenosine A1 receptors in AVN
supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
condition where your heart beats faster than normal
types of SVT
atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)
Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT)
atrial tachycardia
causes of arrhythmias
congenial heart defects
hyperthyroidism
hypokalaemia
drugs - e.g. anti-arrythmic/hypertensive
stress
excess alcohol/drugs
which genetic conditions can cause arrhythmias?
Mutations in channels
Long QT syndrome
Brugada syndrome
slow-fast AVRNT
impulse travelling along fast pathway will excite cells @ bundle of His AND slow pathway = cancellation of slow
next impulse enters slow pathway (fast refractory period)
excite fibres in both bundle of His and fast pathway
-> impulse travels rapidly backwards along fast pathway to atrium and re-enter slow pathway again (cycle)
= simultaneous atrial and ventricular contraction
what would appear on an ECG for AVRNT
narrow QRS and absence of P waves
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome
extra conducting pathway between atrium and ventricle
[ECG]
- shorter PR intervals
- delta waves after QRS
- increased QRS duration
main strategy for treated SVT
increase AVN delay to slow down conduction via AVN
rate control drugs - class II/IV (verapamil and digoxin)
rhythm control drugs - class I/III (Flecainide, sotalol, amiodarone)
macro re-entry
re-entry from atrium to ventricle (accessory pathway)
micro re-entry
caused by ischaemic damage to Purkinje fibres in ventricles
early after depolarisation (EAD)
abnormality with depolarisation
slower HR - prolonged QT interval