Unit 6 - Cardiac Rhythm Monitors & Equipment Flashcards
normal path of cardiac conduction
SA node - internodal tracts - AV node - bundle of His - bundle branches - Purkinje fibers
quantifies how fast an electrochemical impulse propagates along neural pathway
Conduction Velocity
normal conduction velocity of SA and AV nodes
0.02 – 0.10 m/sec (slow conduction)
normal conduction of myocardial muscle cells
0.3 – 1 m/sec (intermediate conduction)
normal conduction velocity of His bundle, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers
1 – 4 m/sec (fast conduction)
what 3 things is conduction velocity a function of
1) RMP
2) AP amplitude
3) rate of change in membrane potential during phase 0
what is conduction velocity affected by
- ANS tone
- hyperkalemia-induced closure of fast Na+ channels
- ischemia
- acidosis
- antiarrhythmic drugs
what are accessory pathways
- Band of connective tissue that electrically isolates atria from ventricles
- preserves AV synchrony by preventing atrial tissue from prematurely exciting ventricular tissue
“gatekeeper” of electrical transmission between atria and ventricles
AV node
accessory pathway assoc. with connection from atrium to AV node
James Fiber
accessory pathway assoc. with connection from atrium to His bundle
Atrio-hisian fiber
accessory pathway assoc. with connection from atrium to ventricle
Kent’s bundle
accessory pathway assoc. with connection from AV to ventricle
Mahaim bundle
event, ion movement, and key EKG event assoc with phase 0 of cardiac conduction
depolarization
Na+ in
QRS
event, ion movement, and key EKG event assoc with phase 1 of cardiac conduction
initial repolarization
Cl- in, K+ out
QRS
event, ion movement, and key EKG event assoc with phase 2 of cardiac conduction
plateau
Ca2+ in, K+ out
ST segment
event, ion movement, and key EKG event assoc with phase 3 of cardiac conduction
final repolarization
K+ out
T wave
event, ion movement, and key EKG event assoc with phase 4 of cardiac conduction
resting phase
K+ leak
end of T wave
part of EKG assoc. with beginning of atrial depolarization
P wave
what part of EKG is atrial depolarization complete
PR interal
represents atrial repolarization, ventricular depolarization begins on EKG tracing
QRS
part of EKG assoc. with beginning of ventricular repolarization
T wave
(complete at end of T wave)
normal duration and amplitude of P wave
duration: 0.08-0.12 sec
amplitude: < 2.5 mm
what do biphasic P waves suggest
LA enlargement
think mitral stenosis
what do biphasic P waves suggest
LA enlargement
think mitral stenosis
normal duration of PR interval
0.12-0.2 sec
causes of PR interval depression
- viral pericarditis
- atrial infarction
normal duration and amplitude of Q wave
duration < 0.04 sec
amplitude < 0.4-0.5 mm
characteristics of pathologic Q wave (possible MI)
- amplitude > 1/3 of R wave
- duration > 0.04 sec
- depth > 1 mm
normal QTC
Men < 0.45
Women < 0.47
characteristic of ST segment seen with MI
elevation or depression > 1 mm
when might ST be increased
MI
hyperkalemia
endocarditis
normal amplitude of T wave
< 10 mm in precordial
< 6 mm in limb leads
normal direction of T wave
Usually points in same direction as QRS
points opposite if repolarization prolonged by myocardial ischemia, BBB
causes of peaked T waves
myocardial ischemia
LVH
intracranial bleed
EKG changes with hyperkalemia
- peaked T waves
- short QT
- prolonged PR
- wide QRS
- low P amplitude
- nodal block
order of appearance early to late
u wave with hypokalemia
> 1.5 mm
what is an Osborn wave and what is it assoc with
Small positive deflection immediately after QRS may occur with hypothermia
EKG reference point for measuring ST elevation and depression
PR segment
what is the J point of EKG tracing
point where QRS complex ends, ST segment begins
how can J point be used to quantify ST elevation or depression
Measuring this point relative to PR segment can quantify amount of ST elevation and depression
as a general rule, when is J point significant
> +1 or < -1 are significant
EKG changes with hypokalemia
- u wave
- ST depression
- flat T wave
- long QT
EKG changes with hyper or hypocalcemia
- hyper = short QT
- hypo = long QT
EKG changes with hyper or hypomagnesemia
- hyper = not significant unless very high; heart block & arrest
- hypo = not significant unless very low; long QT
what region of the heart does lead I monitor
what’s the corresponding coronary artery
lateral
circumflex a.
what region of the heart is monitored by lead II
corresponding coronary artery?
inferior
RCA
what region of the heart is monitored by lead III
corresponding coronary artery?
inferior
RCA
what region of the heart is monitored by aVL
corresponding coronary artery?
lateral
circumflex
what region of the heart is monitored by aVF
corresponding coronary artery?
inferior
RCA
what region of the heart is monitored by V1
corresponding coronary artery?
septum
LAD
what region of the heart is monitored by V2
corresponding coronary artery?
septum
LAD
what region of the heart is monitored by V3
corresponding coronary artery?
anterior
LAD
what region of the heart is monitored by V4
corresponding coronary artery?
anterior
LAD
what region of the heart is monitored by V5
corresponding coronary artery?
lateral
circumflex
what region of the heart is monitored by V5
corresponding coronary artery?
lateral
circumflex
what is mean electrical vector
avg current flow of all APs at given time
measure of mean electrical vector
EKG waveform
when does positive deflection occur in EKG Lead
when the vector of depolarization travels towards + electrode
when does negative deflection occur in EKG lead
occurs when the vector of depolarization travels away from + electrode
when does biphasic deflection occur with EKG waveform
when vector of depolarization travels perpendicular to + electrode
what is the vector of depolarization
QRS Complex
direction heart depolarizes
from the base - apex and endocardium - epicardium
vector of repolarization
T wave
direction of heart repolarization
opposite depolarization:
apex - base
epicardium - endocardium
what explains why T wave usually points in the same direction as the R wave
The “double negative” (opposite direction + negative current)
what does axis represent
the direction of the mean electrical vector in the frontal plane
lead I and aVF in normal axis
lead I +
lead aVF +
lead I and aVF in LAD
lead I +
lead aVF -
extreme RAD: lead I, aVF -
lead I and aVF in RAD
lead I -
aVF +
normal axis
-30 to +90 degrees
axis in LAD and RAD
- LAD is more negative than -30 degrees
- RAD is more positive than 90 degrees
causes of axis deviation
hypertrophy, conduction block, or a physical change in heart position
causes of RAD
COPD, acute bronchospasm, cor pulmonale, pHTN, PE
causes of LAD
chronic HTN, LBBB, aortis stenosis or insufficiency, mitral regurgitation
direction of mean electrical vector in hypertrophy vs infarction
tends to point towards areas of hypertrophy (more tissue to depolarize) and away from areas of infarction (vector has to move around these areas)
how does the bainbridge reflex affect HR
- Inhalation = ↓ intrathoracic pressure = ↑ venous return = ↑ HR
- Exhalation = ↑ intrathoracic pressure = ↓ venous return = ↓ HR
adverse effect of giving < 0.5 mg atropine
can cause paradoxical bradycardia (probably mediated by presynaptic muscarinic receptors)
treatment of bradycardia assoc. with beta blocker or CCB overdose
glucagon
50-70 mcg/kg q 3-5 min
can follow with 2-10 mg/hr gtt
MOA of glucagon for beta blocker induced bradycardia
stimulates receptors in myocardium, increasing cAMP
increased HR, contractility, AV conduction
what usually causes sinus tachycardia
increased intrinsic firing rate of the SA node or SNS stimulation
characteristics of A fib
Irregular rhythm with absent P wave
Chaotic electrical activity in the atrium is conducted to ventricle at a varied and irregular rate.
Most common postoperative tachydysrhythmia
A fib
usually between POD 2-4. Most common in older patients after cardiothoracic surgery.
treament of acute A fib
cardioversion (start with 100 joules)
when should TEE be obtained with A fib
onset > 48 hours or undetermined
when is A fib an indication to cancel surgery
new onset or undiagnosed
characteristics of A flutter waveform
Organized supraventricular rhythm with classic “sawtooth” pattern
Each atrial depolarization produces an atrial contraction, but not all atrial depolarizations are conducted past the AV node
rate with A flutter
Fast atrial rate (250-350)
ratio of atrial to ventricular contractions with A flutter
usually defined - ex 3:1
treatment of A flutter
rate control or cardioversion (HD unstable - cardioversion starting @ 50 joules)
prevents all atrial impulses from being transmitted to ventricles in A flutter
Effective refractory period
when should TEE be obtained in A flutter
If onset is > 48 hours or undetermined
when do junctional rhythms occur
when AV node functions as the dominant pacemaker
HR in junctional rhythm
40-60 because rate 4 depolarization of AV node is slow
causes of junctional rhythm
- SA node depression (volatiles)
- SA node block
- prolonged AV node conduction
treatment of junctional rhythm
Can give atropine 0.5 mg IV can be given if HD impacted by slow HR