Cardiovascular Management

Question 1

An electrocardiogram records an electrocardiograph. True/False?

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Charge differences during the cardiac cycle creates a dipole which generates an electrical field that is measurable with electrodes. The measured potential difference is greatest when the lead axis is perpendicular to the direction of the dipole. True/False?

Answer 2

False

Potential difference is greatest when lead axis is parallel to direction of the dipole

Question 3

Describe the standard limb leads, i.e. where they are aligned

Answer 3

Lead I: RA-LA
Lead II: RA-LL
Lead III: LA-LL

Question 4

The positive electrode is the recording electrode. What does this mean?

Answer 4

The wave of depolarisation moves towards this electrode

Question 5

What does the P wave represent? How long is it?

Answer 5

Atrial depolarisation

0.08-0.10s

Question 6

What does the QRS complex represent? How long is it?

Answer 6

Ventricular depolarisation

Less than 0.10s

Question 7

What does the T wave represent?

Answer 7

Ventricular repolarisation

Question 8

What does the PR interval represent? How long is it?

Answer 8

AV nodal delay

0.12-0.20s

Question 9

What does the ST segment represent?

Answer 9

(maintained) Ventricular systole

Question 10

What does the TP interval represent?

Answer 10

Diastole

Question 11

What are the 3 augmented limb leads?

Answer 11

aVR, aVL and aVF

Question 12

Why is the aVR recording inverted on an ECG?

Answer 12

The wave of depolarisation is moving away from this electrode

Question 13

One large box (5 small squares) on an ECG represents how many seconds?

Answer 13

0.2 seconds

Question 14

How do we calculate heart rate on a regular ECG?

Answer 14

300/no. of large boxes between R-R peaks

Question 15

How do we calculate heart rate on an irregular ECG?

Answer 15

300/no. of QRS peaks in 6 large boxes

Question 16

What are the main risk factors for CVD?

Answer 16

Hypertension
Smoking
Diabetes
Dyslipidaemia/obesity
Lack of physical activity

Question 17

Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with greater incidence of CVD events than hypercholesterolemia. True/False?

Answer 17

False

Question 18

HDL cholesterol tends to be low when triglycerides are high. True/False?

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Essential hypertension has a clear underlying cause. True/False?

Answer 19

False

Cause largely unknown; secondary hypertension usually has a cause