Arhythmia Flashcards
- Explain 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree heart block.
1st- condition of abnormally slow conduction through the AV node
2nd- the electrical signals between your atria and ventricles can intermittently fail to conduct and signals get slower and slower until heart skips a beat
3rd- where there is no transmission of electrical pulses between the AV node and the ventricles.
Describe atrial fibrillation and flutter.
pulse is irregular and very fast. QRS irregular. frequency topic beats also give rise to regular pulse
asymptomatic- palpitations, dysponea, chest pain and fatigue
flutter gives sawtooth pattern
Can be thromboembolism
do an ECG
blood tests to check for thyroid function
Explain “supraventricular tachycardia”
Arises from above ventricles. Electrical short circuit involving Perry AV node tissue. Tachycardia will go at 180 times per minute and this would drive the atria and ventricles at the same time
Describe Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Heart beats abnormally fast for periods of times
Diagnose sinus tachycardia/bradycardia
brachycardia- sinus node fails to generate an impulse or no conductions out sinus node
Explain sinus arrest.
Cessation of sinus node activity for a short period. Although sinus arrest commonly is described as a pause in the sinus rhythm that lasts for more than two normal R-R intervals, this can also be seen with severe sinus arrhythmia.
Understand the difference between atrial and ventricular ectopic beats.
extra or missed beats in atria or ventricle
Discuss the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the population.
not that common
Describe the clinical presentations of atrial fibrillation.
happens when abnormal electrical impulses suddenly start firing in the atria. These impulses override the heart’s natural pacemaker, which can no longer control the rhythm of the heart. This causes you to have a highly irregular pulse rate.
Understand the indications for the use of electrical cardioversion in atrial fibrillation.
gets your abnormal heart beat back to normal
therapeutic approaches to atrial fibrillation
control rate vs control rhythm
beta blockers, digoxin, anticoagulants such as warfarin
cardioversion
Describe an atrial flutter
Large circulating wavefront going round the atrium. Mostly the right atrium and if patients have a scar then it rotates around the scar. Gives rise to sawtooth pattern at p wave on ECG
Atrial rate is 300 but AV node only allows every second beat and can lead to palpitations
how do you deal with atrial flutter
oblate the area through which the flutter circuit goes
describe ventricular tachycardia
fast rhythm disturbance that arise from within the ventricles and don’t require participation of atria. Broad QRS complexes.
Why use ICDs
secondary prevention of cardiac arrest due to VF/VT. deliver shock to the heart
Only use if bad and they black out or have palpitations
