EKG/Sinus & Atrial Dysrythmias Flashcards
Cardiac Probs
5 Leads ECG Placements
- White on the Right
- Clouds over Grass
- Smoke over Fire
- I Heart Chocolate
White on Right side
Green RL
Black on Left side
Red LL
Brown in Middle
ECG Paper
Horizontal axis = time
Small square: 0.04 sec
Large square: 0.20 sec
5 Large sqaures: 1 sec
x30 Large squares: 6 sec
x1500 small square: 1 min
x 300 large squares: 1 min
Vertical axis = Voltage
Height of one small square = 0.1 millivolt in mm
Calculating Heart Rate
6 sec intervals
x7 R-R interval in 6 sec
* 7 x 10= 70 bpm
or
1500/ # small boxes in one R-R
300/ # big boxes in one R-R
QRS Complex
Time for delpolarization of both ventricles (systole)
Duration: < .10
Firing of AV node
* **Atrial repolarization also occurs, just can’t see it **
What I should ask myself: 3 R’s
Regularity: Are the QRS complexes occuring the same regularity (R-R wave)
Rate: Artial and Ventricular rate should be 60-100/min, count in the 6 sec strip (multiple 10) to get rate
Resemblance: Do they resemble a QRS complexes, is there one present after each P wave? Only 1 P wave/ QRS, Are they round and pointing up, less than 0.12 ( 3 small cubes)
P Wave
Electrical impulse starting in SA node + spreading through the atria
* Represents: atrial depolarization
* Duration: 0.06-0.12 ( Longer -> delays conduction -> could affect CO)
* Good contraction does not equal good CO (relies on good refill)
What I should ask myself: 3 R’s
Regularity: Are the P waves occuring the same regularity and the consecutive P waves on the EKG? ( Marching)
Rate: Artial should be 60-100/min, count in the 6 sec strip (multiple 10) to get rate
Resemblance: Do they resemble a P wave? Only 1 P wave/ QRS, Are they round and pointing up, less than 0.12 ( 3 small cubes)
PR Interval
Represents time taken for impulse to spread through atria, before ventricular contraction
* measured from beginning of P wave to the beginnning of QRS complex
* Full atrial depolarization -> starts of ventricular depolarization
* Duration: 0.12-0.20 (longer -> delays form SA node -> AV node ( AV node prob)
ST segment
Time between ventricular deloparization and reploarization
Measures S wave and T wave
Duration: 0.12
**Needs to be isoelectric (flat) **
End of vent. ctxs -> beginning of vent. refill
T wave
time for vent. repolarization
Duration: 0.16
What I should ask myself:
It should come after each QRS complex and be round and upright
Isoelectric Line
The heart at rest
No depolarization, no repolarization
“baseline”
No 02 req
QT Interval
Time form entire electrical depolarization + repolarization of vent.
Duration: 0.32-0.40
Normal Sinus Rhythm
Rate: 60-100 bpm
Rhythm: atrial + venticular reg
P waves: uniform, upright, one preceding each QRS
PR interval: 0.12-0.2 sec
QRS: 0.10 sec or less
1:1 atrial: vent ctxs => sinus rhythm
Sinus Tachycardia
Ventricular + Atrial rate > 100 bpm
Rhythm: reg
P wave: uniform, upright, one preceding each QRS
PR interval: 0.12 - 0.2 sec
QRS: 0.10 sec or less
Causes:
Exercise, pain, shock
Fever, increase TH (?), anxiety, Hypoxia
Treatment:
Treat underlying cause (decrease caffeine intake, fever pain etc) Perfusion ( cap. refill 1-2 sec, distal pedal , warm, pink)
Vagal maneuvers, blow through straw
Beta Blockers, Ca channel blocker works at the AV node, decrease BP
Catheter ablation: SA node reviving
check the electrod to make sure they are in the right position
Shorter filling time ( decrease CO)
Shorter isoelectric
Sinus Bradycardia
Rate: less than 60 bpm
Rhythm: atrial and vent reg
P waves: uniform, upright, one preceding each QRS
PR interval: 0.12-0.20 sec
QRS: 0.10 sec or less
Causes:
Trained athletes, medicine, OD, decrease TH, extreme cold, use of med (BB, CCB, amiodarone), vagal stim, Hypothryoid, MI (Ischemia), Hypoxia
Treatment:
Eliminate cause
increase HR if symptomatic (1st s/s: neuro changes-lethargy)
1st choice Atropine 0.5-1 mg Q3-5 mins (total 3 mg, IV push)
* if not effective (2nd choice) **Transcutaneous pacing **
3rd choice Catecholamines: epi or dopamine drip
Emergency transcutaneous pacing
Hemodynamic- Hypotension, mental status, SOB angina, PVCs
atropine is a anticholingeric that blocks vagal effects on the SA and AV nodes
Atrial Tachycardias
- Varied group of dysrhythmias that originate from an ectopic focus in the atria somewhere other than the SA node. HR>150
- Ectopic atrial focus generates impulses faster than AV node can handle. Ventricles may not respond to each one.
- Does not require the AV junction, accessory pathway, or vent tissue for it initiation
Supraventicular Tachycardia (SVT)
Atrial tachycardia
Narrow complex
Dysrhythmia orginating in atria that overrides SA node (singular ectopic beat)
T wave overrides P wave ( 0:1 ratio = atrial dysrhthmia)
Equal R-R = reg
Causes/Risk Factors:
Unrelieved sinus tach can -> SVT
Female < 40, caffeine, nictoine, Hypoxia, Stress, CAD, Cardiomyopathy
Hemodynamic Effect ( if sustained):
Palpitation, weakness, fatique, SOB, anxiety, hypotension, syncope!, angine, decrease LOC
Treatment:
**Assess the pt’s **: ABC’s, O2, IV access
Can resolve on its own, eliminate cause
Vagal maneuvers! (first try for adults, children (ice water, face in, shock, Baby (ICE pack two to cheek)
1 st choice AdenSoine - (6mg, 12 mg), fast IV push, stops the heart, short half life, follow w/ saline, arm up
* Pts must be attached to code cart
* 2nd choice, if 12 mg doesn’t work Amiodarone ( antidysrthmic) ,
* Beta Blocker, Ca channel blockers to slow rate (AV node)
* 3RD CHOICE sync cardioversion if the rhythm is resistant to drugs, wait for the QRS, it has to learn the rhythmm
* Defib- doesnt wait for the QRS
* Catheter ablation later, not emegerncy phase. (burn hyperexcitable cells)