Atrial Rhythms Flashcards

Comprehensive flashcards covering atrial rhythms, including mechanisms, specific tachycardia types (MAT, SVT, AVNRT, AVRT), premature complexes, and treatment interventions such as vagal maneuvers and cardioversion.

Atrial dysrhythmias may occur because of three mechanisms: altered automaticity, triggered activity, and __________.

reentry

While altered automaticity and triggered activity are disorders in impulse formation, reentry is a disorder in impulse __________.

conduction

The thin-walled, low-pressure chambers that receive blood from systemic circulation and lungs are the __________.

atria

The term used to describe the P waves reflecting atrial depolarization and the extra blood volume contributed to the ventricles is the __________.

"atrial kick"

A rhythm that begins in the sinoatrial (SA) node has one __________ P wave before each QRS complex.

positive

Premature beats that appear early are identified by their site of origin, such as premature atrial complexes (PACs), premature junctional complexes (PJCs), and __________.

premature ventricular complexes (PVCs)

A pattern where every other beat is a premature beat is known as __________.

bigeminy

A pattern where every third beat is a premature beat is known as __________.

trigeminy

A pattern where every fourth beat is a premature beat is known as __________.

quadrigeminy

Two premature beats in a row are called __________.

paired beats (couplet)

Three or more premature beats in a row are called __________.

runs or bursts

A __________ pause often follows a PAC and represents the delay during which the SA node resets its rhythm.

noncompensatory (incomplete)

PACs associated with a wide-QRS complex are called __________ PACs.

aberrantly conducted

A PAC where only a P wave is seen with no QRS after it because it occurred too early is called a __________ PAC.

nonconducted or blocked

The updated term for the rhythm formerly known as wandering atrial pacemaker is __________.

multiform atrial rhythm

In a multiform atrial rhythm (wandering atrial pacemaker), the QRS duration is typically __________ or less.

$$0.11\text{ second}$$

When wandering atrial pacemaker is associated with a ventricular rate faster than $100\text{ beats/min}$, the rhythm is called __________.

multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT)

Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia (MAT) is most often seen in older adults with severe __________.

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) includes rhythms with a ventricular rate faster than $100\text{ beats/min}$ at rest that begin above the bifurcation of the __________.

bundle of His

Types of SVTs that require the AV node to sustain the rhythm include AVNRT and __________.

AVRT

In atrial tachycardia with 2:1 block, if the atrial rate is $180\text{ beats/min}$, the ventricular rate is __________.

$$90\text{ beats/min}$$

Carotid sinus massage, application of a cold stimulus to the face, and the Valsalva maneuver are examples of __________.

vagal maneuvers

The medication used to interrupt reentry pathways involving the AV node, characterized by a rapid onset and short half-life, is __________.

Adenosine

The delivery of an electrical shock to the heart timed to occur during the QRS complex is called __________.

synchronized cardioversion

The most common type of SVT, resulting from a reentry circuit using two separate pathways in the AV node, is __________.

AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT)

AVRT involves a pathway of impulse conduction outside the AV node and bundle of His, a condition known as __________.

preexcitation

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is characterized by a short PR interval, QRS widening, and a __________ wave.

delta

An ectopic atrial rhythm where an irritable site within the atria fires regularly at a very rapid rate is __________.

Atrial Flutter

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is associated with an increased stroke risk because blood pools in the atria and forms __________.

clots

If AFib occurs with third-degree AV block, the ventricular rhythm will be __________.

slow and regular