CARDIAC RHYTHMS Flashcards
What does the P wave on an ECG represent?
Atrial Depolarization _ When the Atria are ready to pump blood into the ventricles as the SA node sends its charge to AV node
What does the QRS Waves Represent on an ECG?
Ventricular Depolarization three distinct waves created by the passage of the cardiac electrical impulse through the ventricles and occurs at the beginning of each ventricular contraction.
What occurs during the P-R Interval?
Ventricles are filling with blood prior to pumping Should be shown as a “flat line” on ECG
How would a decreased perfusion be shown on an ECG?
Prolonged QRS Complexes
What does the T wave on an ECG represent?
Ventricular repolarization
An Inverted T Wave could be indicative of: A/ Hypocalcemia B/ Hypokalemia C/ Hyponatremia D/ Hypoxia
B/ Hypokalemia Low K+ levels
What does and Elevated ST segment on an ECG mean?
Myocardial infarction
What does and depressed ST segment on an ECG mean? How do you treat this?
Ischemia or decreased workload Apply O2
This occurs during sleep, in fine-tuned athletes and is common in MIs.
Sinus Bradycardia
What are treatment options for Sinus Bradycardia?
Pulse Oximeter Give O2 if needed IV access Obtain 12-lead ECG Atropine
How does Atropine treat sinus Bradycardia?
Blocks the vagus nerve which stops the heart from slowing down. It also increases sympathetic NS activity
What is Sinus Tachycardia?
When the SA Node in the atria are firing at abnormally fast rate for patient age. typically 100-180 bpm
What is Sinus Arrhythmia?
SA Node fires irregularly
Differentiate between Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and Non-Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia.
Respiratory - Associated with the phases of breathing in intrathoracic Non-respiratory - *Typically common in heart disease *Common after inferior wall MI *May be seen with increased intracranial pressure *May be result f meds
What does Supraventricular Tachycardia mean?
Increased rhythms in the Atria (Above the Ventricles Can begin in the: *SA Node *Atrial Tissue *AV Junction
What does Ectopic Atrial Tachycardia mean?
Increased Atrial Rhythm that does NOT Originate in the SA node.
What are some symptoms of Atrial Tachycardia?
*SOB *Altered LOC *Syncope *Weakness *Chest pain *Hypotension
What treatment would you provide a stable patient with atrial tachycardia?
*O2/Oximeter *Vitals *Establish IV *Apply Cardiac Monitor *Obtain 12-lead ECG *Vagal Maneuvers *Adenosine
What does Adenosine Do to Atrial Tachycardia?
Interrupts reentry pathways that involve the AV node. Slows conduction of heart.
What are Vagal Maneuvers?
Slows HR by: Gagging Holding Breath Bearing Down Coughing
How would you Treat a patient with unstable Atrial Tachycardia?
*Apply O2/oximeter *Establish IV access *Administer sedation *Synchronized cardioversion
What is Synchronized Cardioversion?
Delivery of electric shock to the heart timed at the QRS complex
This appears as a swa-tooth pattern on an ECG and is typically 250-450bpm
Atrial Flutter
what is Atrial Fibrillation? How does it increase the risk of Stroke?
Failure of Atria to properly/effectively contract, resulting in a decreased ventricular rate. Stroke risk increases as blood pools in the atria forming clots which can travel to the brain via the Aorta.
The assessment acronym for assess A-fib is A.T.R.I.A. What does it stand for?
A - Asymptomatic? T - Trend in HR? R - Reported Syncope? I - Incidents of Chest pain? A - Altered LOC?
What is the pace of the ventricular system if you SA and AV node cease firing?
20-40 bpm
What is the pace of the AV node if the SA node stops firing?
40-60 bpm
What is the difference between a complete and partial heart block?
Partial - All impulses are slowed and take longer or are intermittent were some impulses are not conducted Complete - No impulses are conducted through affected area