POPS: Arrhythmias

Question 1

Automaticity
A. is a property of all normal cells in the heart.
B. of Purkinje fiber cells is enhanced by most antiarrhythmic drugs.
C. is absent in cells damaged by myocardial infarction.
D. is defined as the gradual spontaneous depolarization of a cell toward threshold.
E. is all of the above.

Answer 1

D. is defined as the gradual spontaneous depolarization of a cell toward threshold.

Question 2

A reentrant arrhythmia
A. requires a site of unidirectional conduction block.
B. is caused by changes in automaticity.
C. depends on an area of slowed conduction.
D. is involved primarily in ventricular fibrillation.
E. is both (A) and (C).

Answer 2

E. is both (A) and (C).

Question 3

When used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, digoxin and propranolol are similar in that each
agent
A. activates the vagus nerve to the heart.
B. slows conduction through the atrioventricular node.
C. causes delayed afterdepolarizations.
D. directly blocks ion channels in the atrioventricular node.
E. increases cardiac output.

Answer 3

B. slows conduction through the atrioventricular node.

Question 4

Which of the following antiarrhythmic drugs inhibits the hepatic metabolism and renal
elimination so that the dosages of warfarin (coumadin) and digoxin usually need to be reduced?
A. Amiodarone
B. Lidocaine
C. Verapamil
D. Atenolol
E. Adenosine

Answer 4

A. Amiodarone

Question 5

Which of the following antiarrhythmic drugs is not effective by the oral route? 
A. Quinidine 
B. Propranolol 
C. Amiodarone 
D. Lidocaine 
E. Procainamide

Answer 5

D. Lidocaine

Question 6

Which of the following drugs is a non-dihydropyridine-type calcium channel blocker? 
A. Amlodipine 
B. Verapamil 
C. Procainamide 
D. Nifedipine 
E. Adenosine

Answer 6

B. Verapamil

Question 7

Which of the following antiarrhythmic drugs is associated with the development of a syndrome
that resembles systemic lupus erythematosus?
A. Lidocaine
B. Quinidine
C. Propranolol
D. Procainamide
E. Sotalol

Answer 7

D. Procainamide

Question 8

Which of the following may be contraindicated in a patient with bronchial asthma? 
A. Propranolol 
B. Lidocaine 
C. Verapamil 
D. Procainamide 
E. Quinidine

Answer 8

A. Propranolol

Question 9

In patients with supraventricular tachycardia, which of the following drugs would be least likely 
to depress myocardial contractility? 
A. Verapamil 
B. Digoxin 
C. Propranolol 
D. Edrophonium 
E. Quinidine

Answer 9

B. Digoxin

Question 10

The most frequent toxic effect associated with the use of lidocaine for the treatment of
ventricular arrhythmias is
A. AV heart block.
B. central nervous system (CNS) toxicity.
C. cardiac depression.
D. nausea and vomiting.
E. hepatotoxicity.

Answer 10

B. central nervous system (CNS) toxicity