ACLS Medications and EKG Basics

These flashcards cover key medications, EKG rhythms, heart blocks, and conditions related to cardiac emergencies as discussed in the lecture.

Adenosine

Medication used for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), administered as a 6 mg fast IV push, followed by 12 mg for subsequent doses.

Amiodarone

An antiarrhythmic drug used for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, administered as a 1st dose of 300 mg and a 2nd dose of 150 mg.

Atropine

Used to treat bradycardia by increasing heart rate; dosed at 1 mg every 3-5 minutes to a maximum of 3 mg.

Calcium chloride

Administered in cases of hyperkalemia or calcium channel blocker overdose; typical dose is 1 gm.

Epinephrine

A vital medication in cardiac arrest management, administered as 1 mg every 3-5 minutes during resuscitation.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

A fast heart rhythm originating from the ventricles, can be pulseless or with pulse.

Cardiac arrest

A sudden cessation of effective blood circulation due to failure of the heart to contract.

Wide complex tachycardia

A tachycardic rhythm where the QRS complex duration exceeds 0.12 seconds, indicating a ventricular origin.

Torsades de Pointes

A specific type of polymorphic VT characterized by changing amplitude and duration of QRS complexes.

First-degree AV block

A heart block where the PR interval is longer than 0.20 seconds.

Second-degree AV block Type I (Wenckebach)

Characterized by a progressive lengthening of the PR interval until a QRS is dropped.

Second-degree AV block Type II (Mobitz II)

Characterized by a consistent PR interval with intermittent dropped QRS complexes.

Third-degree AV block

A complete heart block where impulses from the atria do not reach the ventricles, causing independent atrial and ventricular rates.

Sinus bradycardia

A heart rhythm where the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute with a normal PR interval.

Sinus tachycardia

A heart rhythm where the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, maintaining a normal QRS complex.

Right-sided heart failure

Condition where the right ventricle fails, often causing systemic venous congestion and peripheral edema.

Left-sided heart failure

Condition where the left ventricle fails, typically leading to pulmonary congestion and edema.

Hypertensive crisis

A severe increase in blood pressure over 180/120 that may lead to organ dysfunction.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

A condition caused by prolonged deprivation of oxygen to the heart, leading to the death of heart muscle cells.

Cardiogenic shock

A condition where the heart fails to pump adequately to maintain blood supply to organs due to severe myocardial damage.