Clinical Treatment of Arrhythmias Flashcards
Slow arrhythmia
brady arrhythmias
If the rhythm is too slow, where in the conduction system is it affected?
- sinus node
- AV node
- below the av node
Sinus node dysfunctions
- Sinus bradycardia
- sinus arrest/pause
- tachy-brady syndrome
- chronotropic incompetence
Sinus Arrest
Failure of sinus node discharge resulting in the absence of atrial depolarization and periods of ventricular asystole
Bradycardia-Tachycardia (Brady-Tachy) Syndrome
Intermittent episodes of slow and fast rates from the SA node or atria
AV node dysfunctions
- first degree AV block
- Mobitz I 2nd degree AV block (Wenkebach)
1st degree AV block
AV conduction is delayed, and the PR interval is prolonged (> 200 ms or .2 seconds). each atrial signal is conducted to the ventricles (1:1 ratio).
Second-Degree AV Block – Mobitz I (Wenckebach)
Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until a ventricular beat is dropped
-Ventricular rate: irregular
below the AV node dysfunctions
- Mobitz II 2nd degree AV block
- complete heart block
Second-Degree AV Block – Mobitz II
- Intermittently dropped ventricular beats preceded by constant PR intervals
- The infranodal (His bundle) tissue is most commonly the site of Mobitz II block.
Third-Degree AV Block
- No impulse conduction from the atria to the ventricles
- PR interval = variable
- also referred to as complete heart block
When should you be concerned about a bradyarrhythmia pt?
- When the patient is symptomatic, no matter which part of the conduction system is affected.
- When the rhythm is infranodal (below the AV node).
Treatment of bradyarrhythmia?
- Find and treat reversible causes– ischemia/infarction, hypothyroidism, neurologic causes, Lyme disease
- Stop offending medications, if possible: antiarrhythmics, clonidine, lithium, among others.
- Acute treatment for unstable patient: beta-agonists (dopamine or isoproterenol), transcutaneous pacing, temporary transvenous pacing.
- Long term: Permanent pacemaker
Types/origins of tachyarrhythmias
Above ventricle: -Supraventricular Tachycardias (SVT) Ventricles: -Ventricular Tachycardia -Ventricular Fibrillation
Acute treatment of irregular SVT
If unstable: shock
Stable: can control their rates, use antiarrhythmics, or cardioversion
5 C’s of A. Fib management
Cause: Reverse Control Rate antiCoagulation (I know, no C there) Control Rhythm Cure: Ablation
Common causes of A. Fib
Hypertension 14% IHD Mitral valve Disease Alcohol Cardiomyopathies Hyperthyroidism Lone AF 14%
Immediate Tx of A Fib
Cardiovert
Control the Rate
Pharmacological rhythm control in A fib
Less successful
Does not require sedation
Class III agents- ibutilide, amiodarone, dofetilide, sotalol
Class IC agents- flecainide, propafenone
Electrical rhythm control in A Fib
DC Shock 70-90% success
Day procedure in hospital
Needs sedation