U4 Cardiac Flashcards
Causes of cardiac dysrhythmias
Electrolyte imbalance
Problems with oxygenation
Drug toxicity
CAD
Automaticity
Ability to generate an electrical impulse
Excitability
Ability of heart cells to respond to electrical impulse
Conductivity
Ability to send an electrical signal between cell membranes
Contractility
Ability of atrial & ventricular muscle to shorten fibers in response to electrical stimulation
Sinoatrial node
Primary pacemaker
Located upper right atrium
60-100 BPM
AV node
Secondary pacemaker
Located lower right atrium
40-60 BPM
Purkinje fibers
3rd pacemaker
Located at ends of bundle branches
20-40 BPM
P wave
Atrial depolarization (contraction)
PR interval
Time needed for atrial depolarization & impulses to travel through the heart
QRS complex
Ventricular depolarization (contraction)
T wave
Ventricular repolarization (relaxation)
QT interval
Time needed for ventricular depolarization & repolarization
Normal PR
.12-.20 sec
Normal QRS
0.06-0.10 sec
Normal QT interval
Should be <1/2 of R-R interval
Long QT
Can lead to Torsades des pointes
Causes of sinus bradycardia
Excessive tone on SA node Beta blockers (olols) Calcium channel blockers (verapamil, dilitaxem, nifedipine) Dig toxicity Sick sinus syndrome MI Hypothyroidism
HR <30-46/min
Causes hypotension
Decreased cardiac output
Decreased oxygen perfusion
S/S sinus bradycardia
Dizziness SOB Chest pain Hypotension Shock CHF MI
Treatment of sinus bradycardia
Atropine–0.5 mg IV up to 3 mg
Oxygen
Monitor for tachycardia after atropine
Causes of sinus tachycardia
Increased stimulation from exercise Anxiety Pain Fever Anemia Hypoxemia Hyperthyroidism Caffeine
S/S sinus tachycardia
Usually asymptomatic
If symptomatic, treat the cause (pain, fever)
Assessment sinus tachycardia
Decreased BP Decreased O2 sat Weakness SOB Restlessness Decreased urine output
Premature Atrial Complexes (PAC)
Fires an impulse before next sinus impulse is due
Causes of PAC
Stress Fatigue Anxiety Infection Caffeine Epi, amphetamines, Dig
S/S PAC
Often no symptoms
Treat underlying cause
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Rapid stimulation of atria–150-280 BPM
Narrow QRS
Usually caused by PAC
Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Starts & ends quickly
S/S SVT
Palpitations Chest pain Fatigue SOB Nervousness Hypotension
SVT tx
Adenosine 5 mg
If ineffective, 12 mg IV push
Expect a short period of asystole
Risk factors for atrial fibrilation
Age Hypertension Previous ischemic stroke/TIA Heart failure Diabetes mellitus Obesity Alcohol excess (holiday heart)
S/S atrial fibrilation
Fatiuge Dizziness Palpitations Weakness Anxiety SOB Hypotension
Atrial fibrillation tx
Cardizem (calcium channel blocker) Amiodarone Beta blockers Digoxin Anticoagulants
Atrial flutter
Atrial rate 250-350 BPM
Saw-toothed P-waves
Causes of atrial flutter
MI
Rheumatic heart disease
CHF
Ischemia
Atrial flutter tx–slow heart rate
Calcium channel blockers
Beta-blockers
Digoxin
Atrial flutter tx–convert rhythm
Amiodarone
Propafenone
Sotolol
Felacainide
Causes of premature ventricular complexes (PVC)
MI, chronic heart failure, anemia Hypokalemia Hypomagnesemia Caffeine/alcohol Infection
Unifocal PVC
All PVCs look alike
Identical shapes
Multifocal PVC
PVCs originate from different places in ventricles
More dangerous than unifocal
Bigeminy
Every 2nd beat is a PVC
Absolute refractory period
Beginning of Q to middle of T
Heart will stop it
Relative refractory period
End of T wave
Heart will let it in