EKG Flashcards
Sinus rhythm:
- EKG pattern obtained under normal resting conditions
- spontaneous depolarization generated at SA node
Sinus rhythm is under…
parasympathetic dominated output
- 70 to 80 bpm
Arrhythmias:
changes in pattern or rate
Disturbances of impulse initiation can come from…
SA node or ectopic focus
Altered SA rhythms:
changes in rate and timing but not sequence of wave forms
- waves all present and normal
- cycle duration is altered
Altered SA rhythms are stimulated by…
ANS
Sinus tachycardia HR is…
> 100 bpm
- generated by SNS input
Sinus bradycardia HR is…
< 60 bpm
- generated by PNS input
Ectopic foci is where…
conduction is initiated from somewhere other than SA node
- at AV node and Purkinje fibers
Altered ectopic foci causes:
change in sequence or relative timing
- some waves may be absent or timing is completely off
- can produce extra systole or premature beat followed by compensatory pulse
Chronic/maintained activity:
repeated, rapid discharges
- greater frequency than SA node
Examples of chronic/maintained activity:
- atrial/ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia
- atrial fibrillation
- ventricular tachycardia
- ventricular fibrillation
Atrial/ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia is caused by…
irregular firing of initiating signals, pathway problems, and circuit rhythms
Atrial/ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia:
- appears for short while
- ventricular condition is more serious
- predisposes someone to more serious arrhythmias
Atrial fibrillation:
atrial rate is greater then 350 bpm
- not usually life threatening
Causes of atrial fibrillation are often…
age related
- HTN
- mitral valve problem
- smoking
- alcohol
Dangers of atrial fibrillation:
- lack of blood moving
- causes blood clots to form in atria
Ventricular tachycardia:
elevated ventricular contraction sup to 230 bpm
- more serious due to cardiac output
Causes of ventricular tachycardia:
- obese
- associated with heart diseases
- post heart surgery
Ventricular fibrillation:
- most serious
- totally uncoordinated contractions, which causes ineffective pumping
- life threatening if not treated ASAP
Causes of ventricular fibrillation:
- sudden electrical shock of heart
- ischemia of muscle, conducting system, or both
- response to certain drugs
Ventricular fibrillation can cause unconsciousness w/in…
4-5 seconds of onset due to lack of blood flow to brain
Disturbances of impulse propagation leads to…
conduction blocks and reentrant rhythms
Blocks:
delay of transmissions along conducting system
- 1st degree
- 2nd degree
- 3rd degree
- bundle branch