Ventricular dysrhythmias

Question 1

What is a PVC?

Answer 1

A contraction that comes from the ventricle, it comes earlier than it should

Question 2

What does the ECG read of a PVC look like?

Answer 2

It does not follow the p wave and the QRS is wide and distorted

Question 3

What are the causes for PVC’s?

Answer 3

stimulants, ELECTROLYTES, hypoxia, fever, exercise, emotional stress and CVD

Question 4

How do we treat a PVC?

Answer 4

treat the cause

meds: B-blockers, lidocaine or amiodarone

Question 5

Bigeminy

Answer 5

PVC every second beat

Question 6

trigeminy

Answer 6

PVC every third beat

Question 7

quadrigeminy

Answer 7

PVC every 4th beat

Question 8

multifocal PVC’s

Answer 8

When irritation is coming from more than one point

Question 9

what constitutes v-tach?

Answer 9

3 or more PVC’s in a row

Question 10

Why is v-tach so dangerous?

Answer 10

It SERIOUSLY decreases CO

Question 11

What causes V-tach?

Answer 11

Associated with MI, CAD, significant electrolyte abnormalities, heart failure, drug toxicity and other bad things

Question 12

What does a v-tach strip look like?

Answer 12

regular beats at 150 to 200 beats per min it is too fast to to refill ventricles. No P wave, PR not measurable

Question 13

What is implied with no pulse?

Answer 13

no perfusion

Question 14

What can we do?

Answer 14

anti-dysrhythmic medication like beta blocker, CCB or amiodarone
Electrolyte replacement

Question 15

what is ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 15

Irregular waveforms of varying shapes and sizes. The ventricles are just ‘quivering’
No effective contractions = NO CARDIAC OUTPUT

Question 16

Treatment for v-fib

Answer 16

CPR & ACLS/defibrillation

Question 17

cardioversion

Answer 17

elective
sedated but awake
has synchronized QRS 
signs consent
EKG monitoring
50 to 200 joules

Question 18

defibrillation

Answer 18

emergency
unconscious
v-fib or v-tach
no CO
EKG monitoring
200 to 360 joules