Tachycardia Flashcards
Name four examples of Narrow Complex Tachycardia?
- Sinus tachycardia
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
Name two examples of Wide Complex Tachycardia?
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Ventricular fibrillation
Name at least 8 Etiologies of Sinus Tachycardia?
- Exercise
- Anxiety
- Pain
- Exposure to stimulants (caffeine)
- Volume depletion
- Anemia
- Hypoxia (low systemic oxygen)
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pericarditis
Symptoms of Sinus Tachycardia?
- Asymptomatic
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
patients with heart disease (coronary artery disease):
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue
Treatment for Sinus Tachycardia?
No specific treatment for:
- Dehydration – IV fluid
- Pain – pain medication
- Pulmonary embolism – anticoagulation
- Sepsis – treat source (i.e pneumonia– antibiotics)
- Anxiety – consider anxiolytics
Supraventricular Tachycardia?
- Regular, rapid rhythm
- Narrow complex (originates above the ventricle)
- No discernible p waves
Symptoms of SVT?
-Sudden onset racing heart (palpitations)
-Lightheadedness, pre-syncope, syncope
-Shortness of breath
-Anxiety
-If underlying heart disease; chest pain or pressure
Often self limiting, ends abruptly as well
Management of persistent SVT on stable patient?
- Vagal maneuvers
- Carotid massage (listen for bruit- risk of stroke esp >50yrs)
- Adenosine (initial dose 6mg IVP, then 12mg IVP, then 12mg IVP)
- Calcium channel blocker or beta-blocker
- For patients with frequent attacks – consult electrophysiology cardiologist (EP), -> confirm aberrant pathway, -> radiofrequency catheter ablation
Management of persistent SVT on unstable patient?
vagal maneuvers, then if unsuccessful immediate DC cardioversion
Direct Current (DC) Cardioversion?
- Medical procedure which converts cardiac arrhythmia to normal sinus rhythm using electricity
- Two electrode pads are placed on the patient (chest & back), Electrode pads are connected to a machine via cables, The cardioverter delivers a shock which causes momentary depolarization of most cardiac cells allowing the sinus node to resume normal pacemaker activity.
Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia?
- Life threatening
- Fast, wide complex rhythm
- Frequently associated with syncope
- Usual rate ~ 160-240bpm
- Duration of at least 30 seconds
- Frequent complication of myocardial infarction & dilated cardiomyopathy
Symptoms of Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia?
- Heart palpitations
- Lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Short of breath
- Diaphoresis (drenching sweat)
- Near syncope
- Syncope
- Sustained loss of consciousness
- Pulseless (death)
Treatment of acute ventricular tachycardia if pulse is present?
- If v-tach causes hypotension, heart failure, myocardial ischemia then synchronized DC cardioversion
- If the patient is stable then Amiodarone 150mg IV bolus followed by continuous infusion
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICDs)
Treatment of acute ventricular tachycardia if pulseless is present?
- CPR
- Defibrillation
- Epinephrine
- ICD
Torsades de pointes (type of vtach)?
Triggered by hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, drugs that prolong the QTc