Ventricular Arrhythmia

Question 1

Characteristic on EKG of a depolarization caused by a ventricular focus.

Answer 1

Wide QRS

Question 2

Why do PVCs (premature ventricular contraction) usually have a complete compensatory following the beat?

Answer 2

The PVC electric signal is often not transmitted up to the atria to reset the SA node. So the original sinus rhythm is maintained.

Question 3

Treatment for PVC

Answer 3

Usually a secondary cause: meds, stimulants

-Tx: remove the cause

Question 4

What are Romanano- Ward syndrome and Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome?

Answer 4

Abnormalities in potassium or sodium or both channels leading to prolonged QT and possibly TdP.
RW: autosomal dominant
JLN: autosomal recessive

Question 5

How is Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia diagnosed and treated?

Answer 5

Dx: epsilon wave in chest leads 1,2,3
Tx: implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD)

Question 6

What are the Josephson and Brugada Signs?

Answer 6

Brugada’s sign
Interval from R wave to bottom of S wave is 0.10 sec

Josephson’s sign
Small notching near low point of S wave

They indicate ventricular tachycardia and NOT SVT