EKG Flashcards

1
Q

Types of cardiac cells

A
  1. Pacemaker cells
  2. Electrical conducting cells
  3. Myocardial cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Pacemaker cells

A

SA node

AV node

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Electrical conducting cells

A
*Transmit currents quickly and effectively
Anterior, posterior, middle fascicles
Bundle of HIS
Left Bundle Branch
Right Bundle Branch
Purkinje Fibers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Characteristics of myocardial cells

A

Transmits current slow
Contract and pump blood out of heart
Can initiate heart beats if the SA node fails or if the myocardium gets irritated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Cardiac conduction pathway

A
  1. Sinoatrial (SA) node
  2. Internodal fascicles
  3. Atrioventricular (AV) node
  4. Bundle of HIS
  5. Right Bundle Branch
  6. Left Bundle Branch
  7. Purkinje Fibers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

5 large boxes = ?? time

A

1 second

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

300 large boxes = ?? time

A

1 minute

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

P wave characteristics

A

Atrial depolarization

Normal duration <120 ms (3 small boxes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Upright P wave characteristics

A

Normal

Beat originated from SA node or atria and traveled antegrade (down the normal pathway)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Inverted P wave characteristics

A

Beat originated in AV node
Depolarizes atria in retrograde
Junctional beats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Absent P wave characteristics

A

Originates in the ventricular myocardium
Only the ventricles depolarize
Can occur in afib or junctional rhythm as well

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Narrow QRS complex

Absent or inverted P wave

A

Junctional rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Wide QRS complex

Absent P wave

A

Ventricular rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Absent P wave
Narrow QRS complex
Irregular rhythm

A

Afib

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Ventricular depolarization

A

QRS complex

Normal <120 ms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Slow depolarization, likely coming from the ventricular myocardium

A

Wide QRS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Potential causes of wide QRS complexes

A
  1. The myocardium gets irritated (common with pH imbalance, caffeine, stress, ischemia, electrolyte abnormality
  2. The ventricles must take over as the pacemaker
  3. Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome (WPW)
  4. RBBB/LBBB
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Ventricular repolarization

A

T wave

<5 mm height in leads I, II, III

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

When would you see a U wave?

A

With hypokalemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The point at which the S wave returns to baseline

A

the J point

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Upward slurring of the Q wave, commonly seen with WPW syndrome

A

Delta wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

J wave

A

“bump” on the S wave. Commonly seen with hypothermia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Normal PR interval start, end and time

A

Starts at the beginning of the P wave and ends at the start of the Q wave
120-200 ms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Normal QT interval start, end and time

A

Starts at the Q wave, ends at the end of the T wave

400-440 ms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

May cause prolonged QT

A

Zofran and Phenergan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Characteristics of PR segment

A

“pause” at the end of atrial depolarization to allow blood to fill the ventricles
starts at the end of the P wave and ends at the beginning of the Q wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Start and end of ST segment

A

Starts at the J point, ends at the start of the T wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

a heart beat that happens before it is expected to

A

premature beat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

a heart beat that comes after a long pause

A

escape beat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What happens during systole?

A

Heart contraction
Aortic valve opens and the valve leaflets close off the blood supply to the coronary arteries
Blood is ejected from the L ventricle and organs are perfused

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What happens during diastole?

A

The heart relaxes, aortic valve closes, blood rushes into the coronary arteries to perfuse the heart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

True/false: The faster the heart rate, the better coronary perfusion

A

False. The slower the heart rate, the longer the time that the coronary arteries are open, the greater the diastolic filling time and the better coronary perfusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

True/false: Stroke volume is reduced when ventricular filling is reduced

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Describe active vs passive ventricular filling

A

Active filling occurs when the atria contract and force blood into the ventricles
Passive filling is when the atria don’t contract and the volume entering the ventricles is much lower

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Heart conditions that can reduce ventricular filling

A
  1. When a heart beat occurs without atrial contraction (No P wave); afib, escape ventricular rhythm
  2. When there is a premature heartbeat (PAC, PVC)
  3. Rapid HR (SVT or Vtach)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Detects the electrical difference/voltage between two limbs

A

EKG leads

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Provides a picture of the heart from a 0-180 degree angle

A

Lead I

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Provides a picture of the heart from a 60 degree angle

A

Lead II

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Provides a picture of the heart from a 120 degree angle

A

Lead III

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Limitation of a 3 lead EKG

A

Not as sensitive for detecting myocardial ischemia in the L ventricle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Where is lead I located?

A
R arm (-) to L arm (+)
White to black
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Where is lead II located?

A
R arm (-) to L foot (+)
White to red
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Where is lead III located?

A
L arm (-) to L foot (+)
Black to red
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

The neutral/ground lead in a 5 lead EKG

A

Green

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Precordial lead in a 5 lead EKG that makes it more sensitive to pick up myocardial ischemia in the L ventricle

A

Brown (V5)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Heart rate is faster during inspiration and slower during expiration

A

Irregular sinus rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

How does your HR increase during inspiration?

A

Intrathoracic pressure decreases and preload increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

How does your HR decrease during expiration?

A

Intrathoracic pressure increases and preload decreases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

EKG description of sinus tachycardia

A

P wave present

>100 bpm

50
Q

Etiologies of sinus tachycardia

A

Hypovolemia/hypotension

Pain/light anesthesia

51
Q

Anesthetic concerns for sinus tach

A

Increased cardiac oxygen demand
Decrease cardiac oxygen supply
Possible hypovolemia

52
Q

Treatment for sinus tachycardia

A

Fluids
Deepen anesthetic
Beta blocker

53
Q

EKG description of sinus bradycardia

A

P wave present

<60 bpm

54
Q

Benefits of sinus bradycardia

A
  1. Healthy patients that exercise regularly (typically have higher stroke volume)
  2. Patients with CAD (increased oxygen supply, decreased oxygen demand)
55
Q

Anesthetic concerns for bradycardia

A
  1. Age of the patient (particularly kids)
  2. Severity of bradycardia
  3. How fast the heart rate drops
56
Q

Treatment for sinus bradycardia

A
  1. Robinul, atropine, epinephrine

2. Pacemaker (temporary transcutaneous pacing or permanent implantable pacemaker)

57
Q

Slow, complex rhythms that precede asystole

A

Agonal rhythm

58
Q

True/false: You should defibrillate patients in asystole

A

False! Perform CPR, administer Epinephrine and treat any reversible causes

59
Q

EKG description of pulseless electrical activity (PEA)

A

EKG strip shows electrical activity but the patient has no pulse

60
Q

Physiology of PEA

A
  1. The heart does not contract

2. There is an insufficient cardiac output to generate a pulse and supply blood to the organs

61
Q

Treatment for PEA

A
  1. CPR
  2. Epinephrine administration
  3. Treat any reversible causes
    NOT DEFIBRILLATION
62
Q

Any heart beat that originates outside the SA node

A

Ectopy

63
Q

Types of ectopy

A
  1. Premature beats
  2. Supraventricular ectopic rhythms
  3. Escape beats
  4. Ventricular ectopic rhythms
64
Q

EKG description for PACs

A
  1. Upright P wave

2. Normal/narrow QRS complex

65
Q

Physiology of premature beats

A

The specific myocardium was irritated (atrial, junctional or ventricular) and decided to initiate a heartbeat prior to the signal from the SA node

66
Q

Anesthetic concerns for premature beats

A

No concern unless they occur frequently due to less ventricular filling/low stroke volume/cardiac output

67
Q

EKG description of PJC

A

Missing or inverted P wave

Normal QRS complex

68
Q

EKG description of PVC

A

No P wave

Wide, “bizzare/different” QRS complex

69
Q

Treatment of PVCs

A
  1. Antiarrhythmics (lidocaine, amiodarone)

2. Robinul, atropine

70
Q

EKG description of junctional escape beat

A
  1. Inverted or absent P wave
  2. Normal/narrow QRS complex
    Occurs after a long pause
71
Q

Physiology of escape beats

A

SA node fails temporarily, atrial, AV or ventricular nodes jump in for one beat before the SA node starts working again
Atrial will take over first, then AV, then ventricular

72
Q

Anesthetic concerns with escape beats

A

If it occurs multiple times or pauses are prolonged, consider robinul/atropine/pacing

73
Q

EKG description for ventricular escape beats

A
  1. Long pause followed by wide QRS complex

2. No P wave

74
Q

EKG description for aflutter (atrial flutter)

A
  1. “Saw tooth pattern” 250-350 P waves/min

2. More P waves than QRS complexes

75
Q

Physiology of aflutter

A

Atrial myocardium is contraction regularly at 250-350 times/min
Causes decreased ventricular filling and decreased cardiac output
AV node blocks impulses to control heart rate, leading to ventricular rate being slower than atrial rate

76
Q

Anesthetic concerns for aflutter

A
  1. Ventricular filling and cardiac output is reduced
  2. Heart is burning more oxygen than normal
    Needs evaluated by cardiologist first
77
Q

Treatment for aflutter

A
  1. Medications (Amiodarone, Sotalol, Digoxin)

2. Synchronized cardioversion

78
Q

Difference between pacing and cardioversion

A

Pacing treats unstable slow rhythms while cardioversion/defibrillation treats unstable fast rhythms

79
Q

EKG description of atrial fibrillation (afib)

A

No P waves

Irregularly irregular rhythm

80
Q

Physiology of afib

A

Atria are chaotically “quivering” up to 500 atrial impulses/min

81
Q

Clinical implications of afib

A
  1. Risk of clot formation in L atrium increases

2. Cardiac output can be decreased by 25-30% and can be decreased even more if ventricular rate is too fast

82
Q

Anesthetic concerns of afib

A

Only with acute onset

83
Q

Treatments for afib

A

Synchronized cardioversion
Medications (adenosine)
Blood thinners to prevent clots (if afib has been present for more than 2 days, they need anticoagulation for 3 weeks before cardioversion and for 4 weeks after)

84
Q

EKG description for junctional rhythm

A

Inverted or absent P wave
Normal QRS complex
Regular rate

85
Q

Normal junctional rhythm (bpm)

A

40-60 bpm

86
Q

Accelerated junctional rhythm (bpm)

A

60-100 bpm

87
Q

Junctional tachycardia (bpm)

A

> 100 bpm

88
Q

Physiology of junctional rhythm

A

SA node isn’t working, so the AV node takes over

Atrial contraction is slightly delayed

89
Q

Anesthetic concerns with junctional rhythms

A

Less ventricular filling, can be concerning with low BP

May convert to sinus after Robinul

90
Q

EKG description of SVT

A
  1. HR >150 bpm
  2. Normal QRS complex
  3. Difficult to differentiate between sinus and junctional
91
Q

Anesthetic concerns with SVT

A

Decreased ventricular filling. Should treat promptly

92
Q

Treatment of SVT

A
  1. Vagal maneuvers
  2. Adenosine
  3. Synchronized cardioversion
93
Q

EKG description for ventricular escape rhythms

A
  1. No P wave
  2. Wide QRS complex
  3. Slow heart rate <60 bpm
94
Q

Physiology of ventricular escape rhythms

A
  1. Both the SA node and AV node have failed

2. Ventricular myocardium starts initiating beats

95
Q

Anesthetic concerns with idioventricular rhythm

A
  1. There is no active ventricular filling
  2. Low HR
  3. Low cardiac output
96
Q

Treatment for ventricular escape rhythm

A
  1. Cardiac pacing
  2. Potentially epinephrine if pt is unstable
    AVOID LIDOCAINE (it suppresses ventricular ectopy)
97
Q

Rates of idioventricular rhythm, accelerated idioventricular rhythm and vtach

A
  1. <60 bpm for idioventricular rhythm
  2. 60-100 bpm for accelerated idioventricular rhythm
  3. > 100 bpm for vtach
98
Q

EKG description for monomorphic vtach

A
  1. No P waves
  2. Wide QRS complexes of the same shape
  3. Heart rate >100 bpm
99
Q

EKG description for polymorphic vtach (Torsades de Pointes)

A

R wave alternate in polarity and amplitude

Prolonged QT interval

100
Q

Physiology of vtach

A

Ventricular myocardium is initiating beats at a rapid rate, which leads to:

  1. High oxygen consumption
  2. Minimal ventricular filling (may or may not produce pulses)
101
Q

Anesthetic concerns with vtach

A

Medical emergency!!!

Requires immediate cardioversion/defibrillation

102
Q

Treatment of vtach

A

Antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, lidocaine)

Electrical cardioversion

103
Q

EKG description for ventricular fibrillation

A

No real P waves or QRS complexes

Scribbles

104
Q

Physiology of Vfib

A

Ventricles are not contracting, only quivering at a rapid rate

  1. Heart is consuming a lot of oxygen
  2. There is no pulse or cardiac output
105
Q

Anesthetic concerns with vfib

A

Immediate defibrillation!!!!

106
Q

Treatment for vfib

A
  1. Defibrillation

2. CPR until perfusing rhythm returns

107
Q

EKG description for 1st degree AV block

A

Prolonged PR interval (>0.2s, or one large box)

108
Q

Physiology of 1st degree AV block

A

For some reason conduction through AV node is slower than normal

109
Q

Anesthetic concerns with 1st degree AV block

A

Not really

110
Q

EKG description of 2nd degree AV block

A
Dropped QRS complexes
Type I (Wenckebach): Increasingly longer PR intervals
Type II: Constant PR interval
111
Q

Physiology of Type I 2nd degree AV block

A

Partial block within the AV node that’s bad enough to completely block some of the impulses going through

112
Q

Physiology of Type II 2nd degree AV block

A

A block below the AV node (within the Bundle of His or the bundle branches) that’s bad enough to completely block the impulses

113
Q

Anesthetic concerns with 2nd degree AV block

A

Yes, concerning. May require cardiac pacing

114
Q

EKG description for 3rd degree AV block

A

P waves and QRS complexes are not associated with each other

Slow ventricular rate (30-40bpm)

115
Q

Physiology of 3rd degree AV block

A

Atria are contracting, but the AV node is blocked and no impulses are coming through
The ventricles must initiate their own beat

116
Q

Clinical effects of complete heart block

A
  • The atria may try to empty into full ventricles
  • Ventricles may attempt to contract when empty
  • Serious reduction in cardiac output
117
Q

Treatment for complete heart block

A
  1. Cardiac pacing
  2. Epinephrine if pt is unstable
    AVOID LIDOCAINE
118
Q

Signs of ischemia/infarction

A
  1. ST segment changes (depression is more ischemia, elevation is more infarction)
  2. Abnormal T waves
  3. Abnormal Q waves
119
Q

Myocardial ischemia treatment

A
  1. Increased oxygen supply

2. Decrease oxygen demand

120
Q

Anesthetic concerns with signs of ischemia/infarction

A

Compare to old EKGs, if acute onset, very concerning