Ch. 9 Key Terms Flashcards
Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
Clinical interventions for the urgent treatment of cardiac arrest and other life-threatening medical emergencies as well as the knowledge and skills to deploy these interventions
Apnea
No breathing
Bigeminy
Pattern in which every other complex is a premature beat (PVC)
Bundle branch block (BBB)
The electrical impulses that control the heartbeat cannot move properly throughout the ventricle; block in branches causes impulse within ventricles to travel slower than normal
Coupling
Two PVCs that occur back to back
Crash cart
Cart/tray containing emergency medication and equipment that is transported to the location of an emergency for life support
Frequent PVC
6+ PVCs per minute
Interpolated PVC
PVC occurs during the normal R-R interval without interrupting the underlying rhythm
Left bundle branch block (LBBB)
Blockage of left bundle branch, so current traveling down right bundle branch must stimulate the right ventricle first, then the septum, and then the left ventricle through cell-by-cell conduction
Multifocal PVC
Varied shapes and forms of the PVCs suggesting more than one irritable focus
Occasional PVC
Less than 6 PVCs per minute
Paroxysmal event
Witnessed sudden change in any cardiac rhythm, including starting, stopping, or both
Premature ventricular complex (PVC)
An ectopic impulse originating in either ventricle that occurs too early in the cycle
QS complex
QRS complex with little to no R wave; can indicate a left bundle branch block; depolarization of the ventricles without the presence of the positive R wave; results in the joining of the 2 negative waveforms (Q and S) of the QRS complex
Quadgeminy
Pattern in which every 4th complex is a premature complex (ex: PVC)
R-on-T PVC
PVC occurs on the downslope of the T wave or the vulnerable period of the ventricular refractory period
Right bundle branch block (RBBB)
Block that occurs in right bundle branch, so current traveling down left bundle branch has to stimulate the left ventricle first then the septum, and then the right ventricle through cell-by-cell conduction
Run of ventricular tachycardia
3+ PVCs in a row at a rate of grater than 100bpm; aka triple PVCs or salvo
Salvo
3+ PVCs in a rate exceeding 100bpm; aka triple PVCs or run of ventricular tachycardia
Torsades de pointes
Type a ventricular tachycardia in which depolarization impulses move from one ventricle to another; “twisted ribbon” appearance on ECG tracing
Trigeminy
Pattern in which every third complex is premature (PVC)
Triplet PVC
3 PVCs in a row
Unifocal PVC
Early complex that has shape suggesting only one irritable focus present (all same shape)
