EKG - Textbook Flashcards
(59 cards)
what may cause sinus bradycardia
beta blockers
decreased automaticity of SA node
increased vagal stimulation
what is the most common form of sinus arrhythmia? if not this, what can cause the other form?
related to normal respiratory cycle
- rate increasing with inspiration/decreasing with expiration
infection, medication administration, and fever
explain what a sinus block is
SA node fails to initiate an impulse - typically only for one cycle
sinus pause includes
PR interval is 0.12-0.20
QRS complexes are identical and last 0.06-0.10 seconds
RR interval is regular with occasional pauses
HR between 60-100
what can cause sinus pause
sudden increase in PSNS activity
sick sinus syndrome
infection
rheumatic disease
severe ischemia or infarction of SA node
if a sinus pause is prolonged or occurs frequently what happens to CO
compromised - pt may complain of dizziness / syncope episodes
what are the characteristics of wandering atrial pacemakers
P waves present, but may look different
- P before QRS
PR intervals vary, but normal width
RR intervals vary
– <100 bpm
what populations are wandering atrial pacemaker arrhythmias often seen in
young/elderly
– ischemia or injury to SA node
– CHF
– increased vagal firing
what is a premature atrial complex defined as
ectopic focus in either atrium that initiates an impulse before the next impulse is initiated by the SA Node
defining feature of atrial tachycardia
three or more premature atrial complexes in a row
explain EKG findings of premature atrial complexes
the normal complexes look normal, but P wave of the early beats is noticeably different
P wave of the early beat may be buried within the T wave
what EKG findings are associated with atrial tachycardia
P waves may not be present before every QRS
QRS complexes are normal
RR intervals vary
HR is rapid, beating greater than 100 (maybe up to 200)
what may cause an atrial tachycardia
pulmonary disease with hypoxemia
pulmonary HTN
altered pH
– often found in those with COPD
define paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
atrial tachycardia or repetitive firing from an atrial focus
– normal sinus rhythm followed by an episodic burst of atrial tachycardia that then returns to normal
EKG finding associated with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
rapid HR, often >160 bpm
P waves may be present or merged with T
if paryoxysmal atrial tachycardia remains for >24 hrs, what is it considered?
sustained atrial tachycardia
what can atrial flutter be caused by
rheumatic heart disease
mitral valve disease
coronary artery disease or infarction
renal failure
hypoxemia
pericarditis
what can cause atrial fibrillation
advanced age
CHF
ischemia/infarction
cardiomyopathy
rheumatic heart disease
renal failure
what is lost during atrial fibrillation
atrial kick
- up to 30% of CO is lost
explain the severity of A-Fib in patients with ventricular response greater/less than 100 bpm at rest
if less than, atrial fib is relatively benign
if more than, can begin to show signs of decomposition and need constant monitoring
explain the commonality of A-Fib
very common in older population
- will take anticoagulants
explain secondary issues related to a-fib and what can be done to prevent these issues
potential for developing mural thrombi
– due to coagulation of blood in fibrillating atria
what is a classic sign of a-fib that can be seen during intervention
very irregularly irregular pulse
define premature junctional/nodal complexes
premature impulses that arise from AV node or junctional tissues
