EP Flashcards
What are atria?
Two upper chambers of heart
What are ventricles?
Two lower chambers of heart
What is the plumbing of the heart?
Refers to veins that supply the heart with blood and the arteries that carry it away (problem - heart attack)
What is the electrical system of the heart?
Refers to wiring - conducts beats signal from atria to ventricles (problem - arrhythmia)
What is an arrhythmia?
Results from conduction defects of hearts electrical system - can cause impulses to happen too fast, too slowly, erratically
What is tachycardia?
A rapid heart rhythm, usually more than 100 BPM
What is bradycardia?
A slow heart rhythm, usually under 60 BPM
What is fibrillation?
A rapid or irregular muscular twitching
What is defibrillation?
The stopping of rapid or irregular muscular twitching by administering a controlled electric shock to restore normal rhythm- it is like hitting reset or restart button on heart’s electrical system
What is a pacemaker?
Artificial device planted in chest or abdomen which sends electrical impulses to restore the heart’s rhythm
What is the difference between a single chamber and dual chamber pacemaker?
Single chamber senses and paces only the lower chambers of the heart
Dual chamber senses and paces both the top (atria) and lower (ventricles) chambers
What are the three components of a pacemaker?
Pacemaker Device (Generator or “Can”) - provides power
Leads - insulted wires that carry electrical impulse to heart
Programmer - allows for hookup to computer to monitor and adjust
What is an ICD?
Implantable-Cardioverter Defibrillator - artificial device implanted in the chest or abdomen which continuously monitors the heart and delivers life-saving therapies to treat dangerously fast heart rhythms or fatal arrhythmia
What is the difference between single and dual chamber ICDs?
Single attached to right ventricle
Dual attached to right ventricle and right atrium
What is difference between Pacemaker and ICD?
In addition to pacing the heart, an ICD can also shock the heart when a dangerous arrhythmia is detected
What are the three components of an ICD?
ICD Device (Generator or “Can”)
Leads
Programmer
What does CRT stand for?
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Where is a CRT implanted?
Implanted into chest or abdomen
What is a CRT device designed to treat?
Heart failure
What does a CRT system consist of?
Generator, Leads, Programmer