Patient Monitoring Flashcards
(196 cards)
what is electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) used for
used to monitor electrical activity as it travels through the myocardium of the heart sensed by electrodes on the skin
what can be diagnosed through EKG (4)
- dysrhythmias such as VFIB, AFIB, VTACH, bradycardia
- myocardial ischemia: ST changes, new T-wave changes
- conduction defects: AV blocks
- electrolyte disturbances: K+, CA++
cardiac conduction (electrical activity) results in
mechanical beating of the heart
what is mechanical beating created by
created by electrical impulses moving throughout the conduction system
Specific waves that appear on an ECG correspond both to the _____ and the _____ of a particular area of the heart
both to the mechanical and the electrical depolarization/repolarization of a particular area of the heart
what is the 5 electrode system
all but the posterior wall of the myocardium can be monitored for ischemia
- 1 electrode on each extremity and 1 precordial (chest) lead (v5)
what is v5 electrode best for
for monitoring the LV
in patients with coronary artery disease, the ______ is best single lead for diagnosing ______
the v5 lead is the best single lead in diagnosing myocardial ischemia
___% of ischemia episodes will be detected by EKG if leads __ and __ are analyzed simultaneously
90% leads II (white) and V (brown)
what does the P wave represent
depolarization of atria in response to SA node triggering
what does the PR interval represent
delay of AV node to allow filling of ventricals
what does the QRS complex represent
depolarization of ventricles
triggers main pumping contractions
what does the ST segment represent
Beginning of ventricle repolarization
should be flat
what does the T wave represent
ventricular repolarization
after the SA node fires, the depolarization wave passes through the right and left atria, stimulating ____ and producing the _____
stimulating the atrial contraction and producing the P wave
what does the AV node help with
- only normal conduction pathway between atria and ventricle
- slows impulse conduction to allow time for the atria to contract and blood to be pumped from atria to ventricles
Conduction time through he AV node accounts for most of the duration of the _____
PR interval
what does the Q wave represent
-impulse passing through the Purkinje fibers coming from the right and left branches of the Bundle of His
what follows the QRS complex
the plateau phase (ST segment)
what produces the T wave
ventricle repolarization
takes place slowly, generating a wide wave
what is an important characteristic in determining a normal heart rhythm
time
what are the 4 key intervals in particular that aid in the interpretation of ECGs
- PR interval
- QRS interval
- QT interval
- RR interval
- PQRS complex
the normal time for PR interval
120-200 ms
if the PR interval is > 200 ms
1st degree heart block
delayed conduction through the AV node