Dysrhythmias

Question 1

Bradycardia - causes, treatment

Answer 1

-Causes: vagal maneuver, drugs (CCB, B blocker)
-Rx: IF symptomatic–atropine

Question 2

V-Fib - memory trick, causes, treatment

Answer 2

-V-fib is flopping everywhere
-Causes: untreated V-tach, electrolyte imbalance, digoxin, MI
-Rx: DEFIB ASAP, CPR, then amiodarone, epi

Question 3

V-tach - memory trick, causes, treatment

Answer 3

-Tombstone pattern
-Causes: post MI, hypoxia, low Mg, low K
Rx:
-pulseless? Dead –> Defib + CPR, amiodarone, epi
-pulse? Still pulsing –> Synchronized cardioversion

Question 4

A-fib - memory trick, causes, treatment

Answer 4

-funky baseline, irregular rhythm
-Causes: old age, heart disease, HTN
-Rx: monitor, B/Ca blockers if tachy, long term anticoags

Question 5

A-flutter - memory trick, causes, treatment

Answer 5

-sawTooTh appearance
-Causes: old age, heart disease, HTN
-Rx: ablation, B/Ca blockers if tachy, long term anticoags

Question 6

SVT - memory trick, causes, treatment

Answer 6

-SUPER fast (>150)
-Causes: stress, stimulants, heart disease, digoxin toxicity
-Rx: vagal manuever, rapid adenosine bolus, synchronized cardioversion PRN

Question 7

Torsades de Pointes (V-tach) - memory trick, causes, treatment

Answer 7

-Twisting/Tornado appearance
-Causes: big one = low Mg
-Rx: Mg sulfate, of course defib if pulseless, and synchronized cardioversion if unresolved after drugs

Question 8

Chaotic rhythm with no P waves =

Answer 8

A fib