EKG

P Waves

PR Interval

QRS Duration

T Waves

In Ventricular Rhythms

P Waves: Usually absent

PR Interval: None

QRS Duration: Wide, bizarre, greater than 0.12 sec

T Waves: Opposite direction of QRS

What kind of arrhythmia/dysrhythmia is the most deadliest?

Ventricular arrhythmia/dysrthymia

What is the best lead for ventricular rhythms?

L1; Lead 1

What are the only 2 shockable rhythms?

VTach and VFib

PVC vs. Escape Beat

PVCs are early

Escape Beats are late

If irritable foci originate from the right ventricle then the QRS will appear:

Upside down

If irritable foci originate from the left ventricle then the QRS will appear:

Upward

Couplet

2 PACs/PJCs/PVCs in a row

Runs

3 or more PACs/PJCs/PVCs in a row

Bigeminal PACs/PJCs/PVCs

Every other beat is premature

Trigeminal PACs/PJCs/PVCs

Every 3rd beat is premature

Quadgeminal PACs/PJCs/PVCs

Every 4th beat is premature

Run of VTach

3 or more PVCs in a row with a heart rate above 100bpm

Uniform Premature Beats

When all premature beats in the same lead have the same size, shape and amplitude

Multiform Premature Beats

When premature beats in the same lead have different size, shapes and amplitude

Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm

Dysrhythmia originating in the ventricles with a rate between 41 and 100 beats per minute (beats/min)

Asystole

A total absence of ventricular electrical activity

Atrioventricular Dissociation

Any dysrhythmia in which the atria and ventricles beat independently

Defibrillation

Delivery of an electrical current across the heart muscle over a very brief period to terminate an abnormal heart rhythm; also called unsynchronized countershock or asynchronous countershock

Interpolated PVC

PVC that occurs between two normally conducted QRS complexes and that does not disturb the next ventricular depolarization

Torsades De Pointes

Type of PMVT associated with a prolonged QT interval; the QRS changes in shape, amplitude, and width and appears to twist around the isoelectric line, resembling a spindle

Ventricular Tachycardia

Dysrhythmia originating in the ventricles with a ventricular rate greater than 100 beats/min

PVC

Arises from an irritable site (i.e., focus) within either ventricle

Compensatory Pause

If the period between the complex before and after a premature beat is the same as two normal R-R interval

R-on-T PVC

Occurs when the R wave of a PVC falls on the T wave of the preceding beaT

Idioventricular Rhythm

Ventricular escape rhythm, exists when three or more ventricular escape beats occur in a row at a rate of 20 to 40 beats/mi

What decreases because of IVR?

Atrial kick, decreased stroke volume and decreased cardiac output

AVIR

A benign escape rhythm

Ventricular Tachycardia

Exists when three or more sequential PVCs occur at a rate of more than 100 beats/min

Sustained VT

If rhythm lasts longer than 30 seconds

Nonsustained VT

Occurs as a short run that lasts less than 30 seconds and spontaneously ends

Ventricular Fibrillation

A chaotic rhythm that begins in the ventricles With no organized ventricular depolarization

Accelerated Junctional Rhythm

Dysrhythmia originating in the atrioventricular (AV) bundle with a rate between 61 and 100 beats per minute (beats/min)

Junctional Bradycardia

A rhythm that begins in the AV bundle with a rate of less than 40 beats/min

Junctional Escape Rhythm

A rhythm that begins in the AV bundle; characterized by a very regular ventricular rate of 40 to 60 beats/min

Junctional Tachycardia

A rhythm that begins in the AV bundle with a ventricular rate of more than 100 beats/min

Retrograde

Moving backward; moving in the opposite direction to that which is considered normal

Atriovenctricular node (AV)

Is a group of specialized cells located in the lower part of the right atrium above the base of the tricuspid valve

Atrial Tachycardia (AT)

A regular rhythm that arises from an ectopic focus in the atria at a rate faster than 100 beats per minute

Delta Wave

Slurring of the beginning portion of the QRS complex, caused by preexcitation

Multiform Atrial Rhythm

Dysrhythmia that occurs because of impulses originating from various sites, including the SA node, the atria, and/or the AV junction; requires at least three different P waves, seen in the same lead

Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

An irregular rhythm at a rate faster than 100 beats/min with three or more P waves of differing shapes observed in the same lead

Noncompensatory Pause

A pause that often follows a premature atrial complex that represents the delay during which the SA node resets its rhythm for the next beat

Supraventricular

Originating from a site above the bifurcation of the bundle of His, such as the SA node, atria, or AV junction

Vagal Maneuvers

Methods used to stimulate the vagus nerve in an attempt to slow conduction through the AV node, thereby slowing the heart rate

Sinus Arrhythmia

Dysrhythmia originating in the SA node that occurs when the SA node discharges irregularly

Sinus Bradycardia

Dysrhythmia originating in the SA node with a ventricular response of less than 60 beats/min

Sinus Rhythm

A normal heart rhythm; sometimes called a regular sinus rhythm

Sinus Tachycardia

Dysrhythmia originating in the SA node with a ventricular rate faster than 100 beats per minute