EKG book...arrhythmias Flashcards
Any disturbance in the rate, regularity, site of origin or conduction of the cardiac electrical impulse
Arrhythmia
HR as low as 35-40 bomb are common and quite normal in…
Well trained athletes
- Palpitations
- Light headedness/syncope
- Sudden death
Clinical manifestations of arrhythmias
HIS DEBS mnemonic…arrhythmogenic factors that should be considered in patients w arrhythmias
Hypoxia
Ischemia/irritability
Sympathetic stimulation
Drugs
Electrolyte disturbances
Bradycardia
Stretch
In order to ID arrhythmias correctly, what must be examined?
Rhythm strip
Reentry loops represent a disorder of….
Impulse transmission
With junctional escape, depolarization originates near the AV node, and the usual pattern of atrial depolarization does not occur. As a result, a normal what is not seen?
P wave
What does an EKG of sinus arrest or sinus block look like?
Normal sinus rhythm followed by flat line
What does an EKG of junctional escape look like?
Normal sinus rhythm, followed by a longer than normal pause, then QRS complexes (further apart) with no p wave before
Ectopic rhythms and reetrant rhythms are the 2 major causes of
Nonsinus arrhythmias
These can be limited within a single anatomic site (i.e. the AV node), can occur through an entire chamber or they can even involve both an atrium and ventricle
Reentrant loops
- Are normal P waves present?
- Are the QRS complexes narrow (0.12 seconds)
- What is the relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes
- Is the rhythm regular or irregular?
The 4 questions you must ask when looking at an arrhythmia EKG
If there are normal appearing P-waves with a normal axis, then the origin of the arrhythmia is most likely within the…
Atria
a normal P wave axis is a pretty good indication the rhythm originates above the AV node
A QRS complex of less than 0.12 seconds in duration…
Narrow
A QRS complex of greater than 0.12 seconds in duration…
Wide
A narrow QRS complex implies that ventricular depolarization is proceeding along which pathway?
The usual pathway! (AV node to Bundle of His to bundle branches to Purkinje cells)
*this is the most efficient means of conduction, which is why the QRS complex appears narrow
A narrow QRS complex indicates that the origin of the rhythm must be at or above the…
AV node
A wide QRS complex usually implies that the origin of depolarization is within…
The ventricles
What does the QRS complex look like when depolarization is initiated within the ventricular myocardium, not the conduction system
Wide QRS
If the P wave and QRS complexes correlate in a 1:1 fashion, with a single P wave preceding each QRS complex, then the rhythm almost certainly has a ______ origin
Sinus or other atrial
Single ectopic supra ventricular beats that originate in atria
Atrial premature beats
Single ectopic supra ventricular beats that originate in the vicinity of the AV node
Junctional premature beats
If the P wave contour of the premature beat differs from that of the normal sinus beat…
Atrial premature beat
If there is no P wave preceding the premature QRS complex..
Junctional premature beat
What is the difference between a junctional premature beat and a junctional escape beat?
Junctional premature occurs EARLY, prematurely interposing itself into the normal sinus rhythm
An escape beat occurs LATE, following a pause when the sinus node has failed to fire
A premature junctional beat has no..
P wave preceding the QRS complex
The QRS complex in both atrial and junctional premature beats..
Normal! …conduction occurs normally to the ventricles
Common arrhythmia with abrupt onset, initiated by a premature supra ventricular beat, with a quick termination. Rate is usually between 150-220 bpm
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
Regular, narrow QRS tachycardia
P waves usually not seen
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)