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BRS YR2 > Electrocardiography and Rhythm Disorders > Flashcards

Electrocardiography and Rhythm Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What can ECGs show?

A
  • the electrical activity of the heart
  • clinical abnormalities
  • structural abnormalities
  • perfusion abnormalities
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2
Q

What are the advantages of using an ECG?

A
  • cheap
  • easy
  • reproducible
  • quick
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3
Q

What is a vector?

A

a quantity with both a magnitude and a direction

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4
Q

What does the isoelectric line represent?

A

no net change in voltage (the vector is perpendicular to the lead)

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5
Q

What does the steepness of the line show?

A

the velocity of the action potential

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6
Q

What does the width of the wave represent?

A

the duration of the action potential

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7
Q

What does the p wave represent?

A

the electrical signal for atrial contraction given by the SA node

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8
Q

What does the QRS complex indicate?

A

The electrical signal that stimulates contraction of the ventricles (ventricular systole)

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9
Q

What does the T wave indicate?

A

The electrical signal that signifies relaxation of the ventricles

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10
Q

What part of the heart does the P wave represent?

A

the atria

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11
Q

what does the SA node do?

A

Contains auto-rhythmic myocytes that electrically signal for atrial depolarisation

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12
Q

What does the AV node do?

A
  • Slows signal conduction
  • Allows for ventricular filling
  • Protective
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13
Q

What part of an ECG represents the action of the AVN?

A

the PR segment

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14
Q

Why is there no deflections shown during the conduction by the Bundle of His?

A

Rapid, Insulated conduction that is perpendicular to the direction of the lead (therefore doesn’t show on the trace)

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15
Q

What is responsible for Q?

A

Bundle branches cause septal depolarisation

- left side is slightly less insulated, therefore the signal escapes against Lead II direction.

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16
Q

What causes an R wave?

A

Purkinje fibres causing ventricular depolarisation

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17
Q

What causes an S wave?

A

Late depolarisation of Purkinje fibres

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18
Q

What causes the T wave?

A

Ventricular repolarisation

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19
Q

What is the rule of Ls?

A

Lead I - Right Arm> Left Arm (one L)
Lead II - Right Arm> Left Leg (two Ls)
Lead III - Left Arm> Left Leg (three Ls)

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20
Q

What is the rule of reading ?

A

Drawn as a triangle, read from Left to Right, and then Top to Bottom

the first electrode of each bipolar pair you reach is the –ve electrode

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21
Q

where is V1 placed?

A
  • Right of sternum
  • 4th intercostal space
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22
Q

Where is V2 placed?

A
  • Left of the sternum
  • 4th intercostal space
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23
Q

Where is V3 placed?

A
  • Left
  • halfway between V2 and V4
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24
Q

Where is V4 placed?

A
  • Left mid-clavicular line
  • 5th intercostal space
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25
Where is V5 placed ?
- Left anterior axillary line - 5th intercostal space
26
Can you shock during asystole?
No
27
What are the characteristics of sinus rhythm?
- every P wave is followed by a QRS complex - regular rate (even R-R intervals) - normal HR (60-100bpm)
28
What causes a sinus arrhythmia and what are its characteristics?
- stress - exercise - stimualtants - rate is irregular (variable R-R intervals) - R-R intervals vary with breathing cycle
29
What are the characteristics of atrial fibrillation?
- oscillating baseline - slow rate - irregularly irregular PR intervals
30
What are the characteristics of atrial flutter?
- regular, saw tooth pattern in baseline - saw tooth is not always visible
31
What are the characteristics of a first degree heart block?
- prolonged PR interval caused by slower AV conduction - regular rhythm
32
What are the characteristics of second degree heart block (Mobitz I/Wenckebach)?
regularly irregular rhythm
33
What are the characteristics of second degree heart block (Mobitz II)?
- regularly irregular rhythm - can rapidly deteriorate into 3rd degree heart block
34
What are the characteristics of third degree (complete) heart block?
- regular P waves, regular QRS complexs - BUT no relationship - no sinus rhythm
35
What is a non-sinus rhythm?
when the electrical stimulation of the heart isn't initiated by the SA node
36
What are the characteristics of ventricular tachycardia?
- P waves hidden - dissociated atrial rhythm - rate is regular and fast (100-200bpm) - shockable rhythm - high risk of deteriorating into fibrillation
37
What are the characteristics of ventricular fibrillation?
- HR is irregular and >250bpm - heart is unable to generate output - shockable rhythm
38
What are the characteristics of an ST elevation?
ST segment is elevated >2mm above the isoelectric line
39
What are the characteristics of an ST depression?
ST depressed >2mm below the isoelectric line
40
What causes ST depression?
myocardial ischaemia - coronary insufficiency
41
What can cause ST elevation?
infarction (tissue death due to hypoperfusion) - STEMI
42
What causes Mobitz-1 type/second degree heart block?
a diseased AV node
43
What is first degree heart block indicative of?
benign, progressive disease of aging
44
Where does atrial flutter tend to be seen?
leads II, III, and aVF
45
What complication is associated with atrial fibrillation?
turbulent blood flow pattern increases the risk of clots
46
What is the impact of atrial fibrillation on cardiac output?
minimal, as atria are not essential to the cardiac cycle
47
What tends to cause sinus tachycardia?
often a physiological response, secondary to another factor
48
What can cause sinus bradycardia?
- can be normal/healthy - medication - vagal stimulation
49
What are the steps of reading an ECG?
- rate and rhythm - P wave and PR interval - QRS duration - QRS axis - ST segment
50
What is every small box on an ECG worth (s)?
0.04 seconds
51
What is every large box on an ECG worth (s)?
0.2 seconds
52
What is every small box on an ECG worth (mV)?
0.1mV
53
What is every large box on an ECG worth (mV)?
0.5mV
54
What are the lateral leads?
I, aVL, V5, V6
55
What are the inferior leads?
II, III, aVF
56
What are the septal leads?
V1, V2
57
What are the anterior leads?
V3, V4
58
What is the normal length of an R-R interval?
0.6-1.2 seconds
59
What is the normal length of a P wave?
0.08s
60
What is the normal length of a P-R interval?
0.12-0.2s
61
What is the normal length of a QRS complex?
<0.12s
62
What is the normal length of a Q-T interval?
0.42s
63
What is the normal length of a T wave?
0.16s
64
What is the PR interval?
start of P wave to the start of the QRS complex
65
When is a change in the PR interval problematic?
>0.2 seconds (one big box)
66
What is a prolonged QRS complex?
>0.12seconds
67
What is the relationship between the QT interval and heart rate?
as heart rate increases, QT interval shortens
68
What are these?
Electrodes, connect to person
69
What are these?
Cables, attach the person to the machine
70
What are these?
Leads, represent electrical activity
71
What do upward deflections represent?
Movement towards the positive electrode
72
What do downward deflections represent?
Movement towards the negative electrode
73
How are cardiac vectors represented?
by an arrow in the net direction of movement, whose size reflects the magnitude
74
Where is V6 placed?
- Left mid-axillary line - Level of V4
75
Which heart block is the most benign?
- first degree -progressive disease of aging
76
What do the 12 leads show?
The 12 views of the heart
77
Which leads are on the coronal plane?
3 limb leads and 3 augumented vector leads
78
Which leads are on the axial plane?
6 chest leads
79
How many electrodes are needed for a 12 lead ECG?
10
80
What do the lateral leads correspond to?
Left circumflex artery
81
What do the inferior leads correspond with?
Right coronary artery
82
What do the anterior and septal leads correspond with?
Left anterior descending artery
83
How do you calculate the rate on an ECG?
300/number of large squares between R-R intervals
84
How can the rhythm be described on an ECG?
- sinus or non-sinus - regular, regularly irregular, irregularly irregular
85
What is the cardiac axis?
The net effect of all generated action potentials
86
What is a normal cardiac axis?
-30 to +90 degrees
87
Which abnormalities will be shown on an ECG?
- conduction abnormalities - structural abnormalities - perfusion abnormalities

BRS YR2 (67 decks)

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