Basic Arrhythmia Class Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What are electrodes?

Sticker attached to a patient's skin then connected by wire to a machine capable of inscribing the patterns on graph paper.

Will the deflection on the graph paper be upright or downward when the electrical current flows toward the positive electrode?

upright

Which lead is most commonly used?

Lead II

In Lead II, will the primary deflections be upright or downward on the EKG?

<p>upright</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of standardized EKG graph paper?

<p>to compare electrical activity to a normal one</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain what an isoelectric line is.

<p>Line on an EKG that shows all electrical forces to be equal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is measured on the vertical axis of the graph paper?

<p>voltage &amp; time</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is measured on the horizontal axis of the graph paper?

<p>height</p> Signup and view all the answers

The measurement on the EKG graph for a small box is ___ and for a large box is ___.

<p>0.04, 0.20</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many large boxes represent a 6 second strip?

<p>30</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how to measure a PR interval, QRS complex, and QT interval.

<p>PR: measure at beginning of P wave, to end of R wave. QRS: measure at beginning of Q wave to end of S wave. QT: measure at beginning of Q to end of T wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

There is no electrical activity on the PR segment and the ST segment.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

A normal QRS complex is?

<p>0.06-0.12 seconds</p> Signup and view all the answers

A normal PR interval measures?

<p>0.12-0.20 seconds</p> Signup and view all the answers

A normal QT complex measures?

<p>0.36-0.48 seconds</p> Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between waves, segments, and intervals.

<p>Waves are deflections up or down on the isoelectric line; segments identify a straight line between intervals; intervals represent the distance between two points on the EKG tracing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many heartbeats are in a cardiac cycle?

<p>one</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the five waves found in a single cardiac cycle.

<p>P, QRS, T</p> Signup and view all the answers

The PR segment represents?

<p>the atrial and ventricular activation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the PR interval, how is it measured, and what is its normal duration?

<p>The time on an EKG paper measured from the beginning of the P wave to the beginning of the R wave, includes both the P wave and the PR segment, indicates time of atrial depolarization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the QRS represent, how is it measured, and what is its normal duration?

<p>The wave form on the EKG that represents ventricular depolarization; includes the Q, R, and S waves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the five steps to follow when analyzing a rhythm.

<p>regularity, rate, P wave, measurements, interpretation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Write down the five questions to ask when analyzing the P wave.

<p>P wave for every QRS complex? Same number of P's and QRS's? P waves upright? P waves slightly rounded? P waves uniform?</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the five steps in analyzing rhythm.

<p>regularity (rhythm), rate, P wave, PR interval, QRS complex</p> Signup and view all the answers

To determine whether the ventricular rhythm on an ECG tracing is regular or irregular, what should you do?

<p>compare R to R intervals</p> Signup and view all the answers

When measuring an approximate ventricular rate, what should you count?

<p>the R waves in a 6 second strip and multiply by 10</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how to determine atrial rate.

<p>Count the P waves in a 6 second strip and multiply by 10.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does sinus bradycardia differ from normal sinus rhythm?

<p>heart rate lower than 60</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the rate for sinus tachycardia?

<p>Over 100 bpm but less than 160</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the rhythm regularity of sinus arrhythmia.

<p>It is irregular; the rate increases with each respiratory inspiration and decreases with each expiration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 general rules of the heart?

<ol> <li>The site or focus with the highest rate becomes the pacemaker. 2. QRS complexes originating in the ventricles are more than 0.12 or wide. 3. Premature contractions interfere with the regularity of the rhythm.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Number the correct order in which rhythms are categorized.

<ol> <li>Sinus rhythms 2. Atrial rhythms 3. Junctional rhythms 4. Ventricular rhythms</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Complete the characteristics of atrial fibrillation.

<p>Regularity: grossly irregular; P wave: non discernible; PR interval: N/A; QRS complex: 0.06-0.12; QT interval: N/A</p> Signup and view all the answers

Atrial Flutter is caused by?

<p>one single irritable focus in the atria</p> Signup and view all the answers

Complete the characteristics of a normal sinus rhythm.

<p>Rate: 60-100; Regularity: regular; P wave: P for every QRS? Yes; Same # of P's? Yes; Upright? Yes; Slightly rounded? Yes; Uniform? Yes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one characteristic that helps in recognizing supraventricular tachycardia.

<p>Heart rate above 150, normal QRS, no visible P wave</p> Signup and view all the answers

Each time a pacemaker fires, a spike is shown on the EKG strip before either the P wave, QRS complex, or both.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Complete the comparison in rate between junctional rhythms and sinus rhythms.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Characteristics of Ventricular Tachycardia are?

<p>Regularity: Mostly regular; 150-250 bpm; P wave: no P wave; PRI: none; QRS complex: wide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Electrodes and EKG Basics

  • Electrodes are stickers connected to a patient's skin linked to a machine for recording electrical patterns.
  • An electrical current flowing toward the positive electrode results in an upright deflection on the graph paper.
  • Lead II is the most commonly used lead for EKG, aligned with the SA node's normal pacemaker activity.

EKG Measurement and Norms

  • In Lead II, primary deflections are upright on the EKG tracing.
  • Standardized EKG graph paper is crucial for comparing electrical activity to normal patterns.
  • The isoelectric line on an EKG indicates equal electrical forces.
  • The vertical axis on the graph measures voltage, while the horizontal axis measures time.

Box Measurements

  • A small box on EKG graph paper equals 0.04 seconds, and a large box equals 0.20 seconds.
  • A 6-second strip comprises 30 large boxes.

Interval Measurements

  • For interval measurements:
    • PR interval spans from the start of the P wave to the end of the R wave.
    • QRS complex measures from the beginning of the Q wave to the end of the S wave.
    • QT interval stretches from the start of the Q wave to the end of the T wave.
  • Normal durations:
    • QRS complex: 0.06-0.12 seconds.
    • PR interval: 0.12-0.20 seconds.
    • QT interval: 0.36-0.48 seconds.

Rhythm and Wave Characteristics

  • Waves represent deflections on the isoelectric line; segments are straight lines between intervals; intervals are distances between points on the tracing.
  • One heartbeat equates to one cardiac cycle, which includes five waves: P, Q, R, S, T.
  • The PR segment indicates the electrical activity from the atria to the ventricles.

Analyzing EKG Rhythms

  • Analyze rhythm using five steps: regularity, rate, P wave analysis, measurement checks, and interpretation.
  • Investigate P wave characteristics: presence for every QRS, equal count of P waves and QRS complexes, upright and rounded appearance, and uniformity.
  • Determine if ventricular rhythms are regular or irregular by comparing R to R intervals.

Heart Rate Variations

  • Count R waves in a 6-second strip to estimate ventricular rate.
  • For atrial rate, count P waves in a 6-second strip and multiply by ten.

Sinus Rhythms

  • Sinus bradycardia features a heart rate below 60 bpm; sinus tachycardia ranges from over 100 bpm to less than 160 bpm.
  • Sinus arrhythmia shows irregularity with varying rates during respiration.

Rhythm Classification

  • Rhythms categorized in order: sinus rhythms, atrial rhythms, junctional rhythms, ventricular rhythms.
  • Atrial fibrillation is characterized by grossly irregular rhythm, non-discernible P waves, PR interval N/A, normal QRS intervals, and QT interval N/A.
  • Atrial flutter arises from a single irritable focus in the atria.

Sinus Rhythm Characteristics

  • Normal sinus rhythm features a rate between 60-100 bpm, regularity, and consistent P wave characteristics.
  • Supraventricular tachycardia is recognized by a heart rate exceeding 150 bpm and absence of visible P waves.

Pacemaker Activity

  • Each pacemaker firing results in a spike on the EKG prior to either the P wave, QRS complex, or both.

Junctional vs. Sinus Rhythms

  • Junctional rhythms, including Junctional Escape (rate >60), Accelerated Junctional (60-100 bpm), and Junctional Tachycardia (60 bpm), differ from normal sinus rhythms which range from 60-100 bpm.

Ventricular Tachycardia Characteristics

  • Ventricular tachycardia shows a mostly regular rhythm with a rate of 150-250 bpm, absence of P waves, no PR interval, and wide QRS complexes.

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Test your knowledge of basic arrhythmia concepts with these flashcards. Each card focuses on essential terminology and definitions related to heart monitoring and electrophysiology. Perfect for students studying in the medical field.

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