Cardiology related Flashcards
How do you correct the QT interval for heart rate?
(QT interval) / (Square root P-R interval)
Your patient has long QT syndrome, which cardiac arrhythmia are they most at risk of?
Torsades de pointes
Which drug may be helpful in treating a patient with long QT syndrome?
Atenolol
In regards to clinical death and biological death, which is reversible and which is not?
- clinical is reversible
- biological is not
Define sudden cardiac arrest
Death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function
Name the most common cause of cardiac arrest
Coronary heart disease
What is transthoracic impedance?
The bodys resistance to current flow
What are the shockable and non-shockable rhythms?
Shockable - VF, pulseless VT
Non-shockable - PEA, asystole
If after 3 shocks VF/pVT persists, what treatment is indicated?
- amiodarone 300mg IV
Note; compressions continue and adrenaline 1mg IV is also administered
Describe the uses of waveform capnography
- confirms correct tracheal tube placement
- monitor ventilation rate
- monitor quality of CPR
- identify ROSC
- prognostication during CPR
Name some indications for ECG monitoring
- cardiac arrest
- syncope
- chest pain
- persistent arrhythmia
- shock
- severe electrolyte abnormality
- before or after major surgery
How do you calculate HR from rhythm strips?
- 300 / R-R interval in large squares
OR
- the number of cardiac cycles in 30 large squares and multiply by ten
What are the six steps to reading a rhythm strip?
- Is there any electrical activity?
- What is the ventricular (QRS) rate?
- Is the QRS rhythm regular or irregular?
- Is the QRS width normal (narrow) or broad?
- Is atrial activity present?
- How is atrial activity related to ventricular activity?
