Arrhythmia Treatment Flashcards
what is the treatment for acute AF
haemodynamically unstable: DC cardioversion
Stable: rate control with beta blocker or CCB or digoxin if sedentary
what else can you add for the treatment of AF
anticoagulant if there is a high risk of thrombus
what should be used for cardioconversion of AF when there is structural damage
amiodarone
what is the treatment for SVT
1st- vagal manoeuvre
2nd- adenosine
3rd- beta blocker
what should be used in SVT in a patient with asthma
verapamil instead of adenosine (as contraindicated)
how should a sustained VT be treated
1st- amiodarone
2nd- lidocaine
is amiodarone safe to give for a long time
no
how should torsade’s de pointes be treated
magnesium sulphate
what does torsades de pointes look like
VT with varying amplitude
how should bradycardia be treated
1st- atropine
2nd- transcutaneous pacing
how should chronic AF be treated
1st- anticoagulation therapy + rate control via beta blockers (1st choice), CCB or digoxin
2nd- rhythm control on a patient to patient basis- flecainide or sotalol
why do you not give amiodarone in chronic AF
as not for long periods of time
non idiopathic at risk of sustained VT (brugada syndrome)
ICD with antiarrhythmic- fleccainide, sotalol or amiodarone
shockable rhythm in cardiac arrest
1st CPR and defibrillation
2nd 1mg of adrenaline every 3-5 mins (magnesium sulphate in torsades). 300mg of amiodarone after 3 shocks
non shockable rhythm
CPR
adrenaline every 3-5 mins
