Basic Arrhythmia Course Sinus P before QRS, then T
Morphing P; hidden, lost in T
Exam: 10 October 2008 Inverted P; before, during/hidden, after QRS
Normal Sinus Rhythm
Wandering Pacemaker
Premature Junctional Contraction
Regular 60‐100 bpm
Slightly irregular 60‐100 bpm
Underlying rhythm and rate
P Wave: normal upright
P Wave: morphology changes, difficult P Waves: inverted; before, during, after
PRI: 0.12‐0.20s QRS: <0.12s
to see, change every complex
QRS
PRI: 0.12‐0.20s, changes every complex PRI: measured before QRS, <0.12s QRS: <0.12s
QRS: <0.12s
Sinus Bradycardia
Premature Atrial Contraction
Junctional Escape Rhythm
Regular <60 bpm
Regular underlying except for PAC,
Regular 40‐60 bpm
P Wave: normal upright PRI: 0.12‐0.20s QRS: <0.12s
60‐100 bpm, just one beat P Wave: flattened, notched, lost in T wave
P Waves: inverted; before, during, after QRS PRI: measured before QRS, <0.12s
PRI: 0.12‐0.20s, >0.20s
QRS: <0.12s
QRS: <0.12s Sinus Tachycardia
Atrial Tachycardia
Accelerated Junctional Rhythm
Regular >100 bpm
Regular 150‐250 bpm
Regular 60‐100 bpm
P Wave: normal upright
P Wave: different, lost in T wave
P Waves: inverted; before, during, after
PRI: 0.12‐0.20s
PRI: 0.12‐0.20s
QRS: <0.12s
QRS: <0.12s
QRS PRI: measured before QRS, <0.12s QRS: <0.12s
Sinus Arrhythmia
Atrial Flutter
Junctional Tachycardia
Irregular 60‐100 bpm
Regular; atrial rate 250‐350 bpm
Regular 100‐180 bpm
P Wave: normal upright
P Wave: sawtooth
P Waves: inverted; before, during, after
PRI: 0.12‐0.20s
PRI: unable to determine
QRS: <0.12s
QRS: <0.12s
QRS PRI: measured before QRS, <0.12s QRS: <0.12s
Atrial Fibrillation
Supraventricular Tachycardia
Grossly irregular >350 bpm <100:
Regular rapid arrhythmia
controlled vs. >100: uncontrolled
P Waves: invisible
P Wave: fibrillatory
PRI: unable to measure
PRI: unable to measure
QRS: narrow
QRS: <0.12s
Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia
Paroxysmal Supraventricular
Random atrial tachycardia that
Tachycardia
breaks to normal
Normal then sudden random SVT burst Obscure regular rhythm No P, rates vary
Eina Jane & Co. © 2008
Last Updated: 06 October 2008
Walraven, G. (2006). Basic arrhythmias. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Brady Prentice Hall/Health.
Basic Arrhythmia Course
P=P, P>QRS, QRS narrow/wide,
Exam: 10 October 2008
P, wide/bizarre QRS
functioning impulse with gatekeeper
1° Heart Block
AV Block Algorithm
Delay true block; “toll” in AV junction
Does PRI change? NO YES
Underlying rhythm/rate
/ \
P Wave: normal upright,
Are QRS missing? Is R‐R regular?
followed by QRS PRI: ≥0.20s; constant across strip; prolonged PRI QRS: <0.12s
Premature Ventricular Contraction Underlying rhythm, rate; disrupted by ectopic beat P Wave: not preceded by P; dissociated P may be seen near PVC
/ \
PRI: focus in ventricles none
NO NO
QRS: wide and bizarre; ≥0.12s, T wave
1°HB 2°HB T1
in opposite direction from R wave
Wenckebach YES YES 2°HB T2 3° Complete HB Classical Mobitz II
2° HB Type 1: Wenckebach
Ventricular Tachycardia
(Mobitz I)
Regular, slightly irregular, 150‐250
2 consecutive long PRI then
bpm; >250 moves to flutter; usually
drop in QRS after P
<150
Irregular, slightly lower than
P Wave: not preceded by P; dissociated
normal rate (vary)
P may be seen near PVC
P Waves: normal, upright;
PRI: focus in ventricles none
not always followed by QRS
QRS: wide and bizarre; ≥0.12s, T wave
QRS: >0.12s
in opposite direction from R wave
2° HB Type II: Classical (Mobitz 3° HB: Complete Heart Block
Ventricular Fibrillation
II)
Chaotic with no discernable waves or
Atria & ventricle dissociation,
Intermittent block, pattern; count # of blocks R‐R regular/irregular; P‐P regular; bradycardia rate: ½
complexes
communication Regular
Irregular compared to regular V‐tach
P Waves: normal upright, P>QRS,
Cannot determine rate
superimposed QRS
Coarse vs. fine
to 1/3 slower than normal
PRI: may not exist
depending on block
Junctional Rate: 40‐60 narrow QRS
PRI: constantly paired with QRS; can be >0.20s QRS: <0.12s
Eina Jane & Co. © 2008
Treatment
(<0.12s) Vetricular Rate: 20‐40, wider QRS (≥0.12s)
o
Defibrillate
o
Epinephrine
o
Atropine or amiodarone
o
Defibrillate
o
Vasopressin
Last Updated: 06 October 2008
Walraven, G. (2006). Basic arrhythmias. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Brady Prentice Hall/Health.
Basic Arrhythmia Course
Exam: 10 October 2008
Idioventricular Rhythm Usually regular, can be unreliable due to lower site; 20‐40 bpm, can drop below 20 bpm P Wave: none PRI: none QRS: wide and bizarre: ≥0.12s
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm Regular, unreliable due to slower rate; ventricular escape ≥40 bpm P Wave: none PRI: none QRS: wide and bizarre: ≥0.12s
Agonal Rhythm Terminal, lethal arrhythmia, especially when it has stopped beating in a reliable pattern “Dying heart” 1‐2 beats of wide, bizarre QRS Treat as asystole
Asystole No electrical activity in at least 2 leads “Straight” line
Pulseless Electrical Activity Rhythms on the monitor, but patient has no pulse Treat the cause
Eina Jane & Co. © 2008
Last Updated: 06 October 2008
Walraven, G. (2006). Basic arrhythmias. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Brady Prentice Hall/Health.