Dysrythmias Flashcards
Dysrthymias
abnormal cardiac rhythms
prompt assessment is critical
ECG Monitoring
graphic tracing of electrical impulses produced by the heart.
6 recording leases that measure electrical forces in frontal plane and 6 for horizontal wave.
P wave, QRS, ST
Sinus Bradycardia
sinus nodes fire <60 bpm
can cause pale, cool skin, hypotension, weakness, SOB, confusion/disorientation.
Sinus Tachycardia
rate is increased due to vagal inhibition, >100 bpm
Premature Atrial Contraction
Changes in P wave as contraction originates from a location other than the SA node.
Not significant in people with healthy hearts but can be a warning sign of a more serious dysrhythmia in people with disease.
May result from hypoxia, electrolyte imbalances, hyperthyroidism, COPD, CAD
Atrial Fibrillation
most common.
total disorganization of atrial electrical activity.
prevalence increases with age.
decrease CO and increase risk of thrombi (patients usually on blood thinners)
Atrial Flutter
reoccurring regular sawtooth-shaped flutter waves.
decrease CO and precipitate HF
risk for stroke due to risk of thrombus formation (patient usually on anticoagulant)
Premature Ventricular Contraction
premature occurrence of a wide and distorted QRS complex.
Ventricular Tachycardia
run of 3 or more premature ventricular contractions.
patient can be stable or unstable.
must provide prompt treatment or else ventricular fibrillation may develop.
Ventricular Fibrillation
no effective contraction or CO occurs (patient is dying)
Focus on ABCs
Immediate initiation of CPR with the use of defibrillation.
Asystole
total absence of ventricular electrical activity.
patient is unresponsive and prognosis is poor.
provide CPR.
Ischemia
ST segment depression and/or T wave inversion. These changes occur due to an inadequate supply of oxygen.
Infarction
pathological Q wave is deep and >0.03 seconds in duration.
T wave inversion related to infarction occurs within hours and may persist for months.
