Chapter 5 Flashcards
Asystole
When no rhythm or electrical current is traveling through the cardiac conduction system
Apnea
The absence of breathing
Atrial kick
When blood is ejected through into the ventricles by the atria immediately prior to ventricular systole
Automaticicity
The ability of a cardiac cell to initiate an electrical impulse, without being stimulated by another source, causing a cardiac contraction
Bigeminy
Pattern in which every other complex is a premature beat
Biphasic
The waveform that has an equally positive and negative deflection on the ECG tracing
Blocked or non conducted impulse
Impulse occurs too soon after the proceding impulse, causing a period when no other impulses can occur in the ventricles
Bradycardia
A slow heart rate, usually less than 60 beats per minute
Bundle branch block
Impulse is delayed or blocked within the bundle branches of the normal conduction pathway
Capture
The ability of the heart muscle to respond to electrical stimulation and depolarize and myocardial tissue
Cardiac output parameters
Observation guidelines used to assess the blood supply to the vital organs of the body to maintain normal function
Electronic pacemaker
A device that deliver a small, measured amount of electrical energy to cause myocardial depolarization. Most artificial pacemakers are electronic
Focus
A cardiac cell or group of cells that function as an ectopic beat
Hypotension
Condition in which the patient’s blood pressure is not adequate to maintain good blood supply to the vital organs
Inhibited
Electrical current is stopped from being sent to the myocardium
Ischemia
Lack of blood supply to an area of tissue due to a blockage in the circulation to that area
J point
A point on the QRS complex where the depolarization is completed and depolarization starts
Loss of capture
The pacing activity continues to occur without evidence that the electrical activity has depolarizer or captured and myocardium
Malsensing
The pacemaker does not recognize or sense the patient’s own inherent heartbeats
Neurological
Pertaining to the nervous system, it’s diseases, and its functions
Oversensing
The pacemaker senses electrical current from other muscle movements or electrical activity outside of e body as the patient’s heart electrical current
Pacemaker competition
Competition between the pacemaker generator and the heart’s inherent rate over control of the myocardium
Pacemaker malfunctioning
The pacemaker fails to send an electrical impulse to the myocardium at the predetermined interval
Palpitations
Fast, irregular heartbeat sensation felt by the patient, which may or may not be associated with complaints of chest pain
