Cardiovascular: Arrhythmias Flashcards
What is tachycardia?
Fast RESTING heart rate
What is bradycardia?
Slow RESTING heart rate
What causes tachycardia?
Atrial fibrillation
Ventricle fibrillation
What causes bradycardia?
Heart block at the AV node.
Drug induced via beta blockers, Ca channel blockers.
What are pacemakers used to treat?
Bradycardia
What poses as a theoretical risk to patients with pacemakers? Why?
Pacemakers are used to detect faint electrical impulses so can be interfered with by other electrical impulses from outside of the body.
Induction scalers (in the dental setting)
Electrical fields - MRI scans
What does the P wave indicate in sinus rhythm?
Atrial depolarisation
What does the QRS complex indicate in sinus rhythm?
Ventricular depolarisation
What does the T wave indicate in sinus rhythm?
ventricular repolarisation
Where is the abnormality on an ECG in a patient with a myocardial infarction?
S - T segment
If the Q wave/segment on an ECG is below baseline what does this indicate?
Past myocardial infarctions.
What is ventricle fibrillation?
Unstable electrical activity of the heart (rapid or erratic beat)
What are the consequences of ventricle fibrillation?
No cardiac output = death.
How is ventricle fibrillation treated?
Defibrillation !!!
Implanted defib machines in very high risk patients
What is asystole?
Lack of electrical activity/impulses.
