Ch. 9 Key Terms

Question 1

Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Apnea

Answer 2

No breathing

Question 3

Bigeminy

Answer 3

Pattern in which every other complex is a premature beat (PVC)

Question 4

Bundle branch block (BBB)

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Coupling

Answer 5

Two PVCs that occur back to back

Question 6

Crash cart

Answer 6

Cart/tray containing emergency medication and equipment that is transported to the location of an emergency for life support

Question 7

Frequent PVC

Answer 7

6+ PVCs per minute

Question 8

Interpolated PVC

Answer 8

PVC occurs during the normal R-R interval without interrupting the underlying rhythm

Question 9

Left bundle branch block (LBBB)

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Multifocal PVC

Answer 10

Varied shapes and forms of the PVCs suggesting more than one irritable focus

Question 11

Occasional PVC

Answer 11

Less than 6 PVCs per minute

Question 12

Paroxysmal event

Answer 12

Witnessed sudden change in any cardiac rhythm, including starting, stopping, or both

Question 13

Premature ventricular complex (PVC)

Answer 13

An ectopic impulse originating in either ventricle that occurs too early in the cycle

Question 14

QS complex

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Quadgeminy

Answer 15

Pattern in which every 4th complex is a premature complex (ex: PVC)

Question 16

R-on-T PVC

Answer 16

PVC occurs on the downslope of the T wave or the vulnerable period of the ventricular refractory period

Question 17

Right bundle branch block (RBBB)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Run of ventricular tachycardia

Answer 18

3+ PVCs in a row at a rate of grater than 100bpm; aka triple PVCs or salvo

Question 19

Salvo

Answer 19

3+ PVCs in a rate exceeding 100bpm; aka triple PVCs or run of ventricular tachycardia

Question 20

Torsades de pointes

Answer 20

Type a ventricular tachycardia in which depolarization impulses move from one ventricle to another; “twisted ribbon” appearance on ECG tracing

Question 21

Trigeminy

Answer 21

Pattern in which every third complex is premature (PVC)

Question 22

Triplet PVC

Answer 22

3 PVCs in a row

Question 23

Unifocal PVC

Answer 23

Early complex that has shape suggesting only one irritable focus present (all same shape)