Cardiac dysrhythmias treatment

Question 1

Factors responsible for cardiac dysrhythmias

Answer 1

• delayed after-depolarisation
• disordered conduction pattern (re-entry)
• abnormal pacemaker activity
• heart block

Question 2

Supraventricular (atrial) dysrhythmias

Answer 2

• ectopic beats (paroxysmal atrial tachycardia)
• high frequency re-entrant rhythm (atrial flutter)
• high frequency chaotic rhythm (atrial fibrillation)

Question 3

Ventricular dysrhythmias

Answer 3

• ectopic beats (ventricular tachycardia)

- re-entrant rhythm (ventricular fibrillation)

Question 4

Anti-dysrhythmic drugs classification

Answer 4

• class 1a (Na+ blockers) - quinidine, disopyramide
• class 1b (Na+ blockers) - lidocaine
• class 1c (Na+ blockers) - flecainide
• class 2 (beta-blockers) - propanolol, alprenolol, metoprolol, timolol
• class 3 (K+ blockers) - amiodarone, sotalol
• class 4 (Ca2+ blockers) - verapamil, diltiazem

Question 5

Alternative treatments for dysrhythmias

Answer 5

• cardiac clycosides
• adenosine
• electrical defibrillation
• implanted electrical pacemakers