30 Questions
What is a common description of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)?
A skipped heartbeat that many people experience sometimes
What is ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) characterized by?
A rapid heart rhythm starting from the heart's lower chambers
What is ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) characterized by?
The heart's lower chambers quivering and unable to contract or pump blood
What is a characteristic of bradyarrhythmia?
A slow heart rhythm due to a disease in the heart's electrical system
What is sinus node dysfunction an example of?
Bradyarrhythmia
What is heart block an example of?
Bradyarrhythmia
What is the primary function of an ECG machine?
To recognise and record electrical activity within the heart
What type of drugs are used to control heart rate?
Heart-rate control drugs
What is the purpose of anticoagulant therapy in treating arrhythmias?
To reduce the risk of clots forming or having strokes
What determines the clinical effect of cardiac antiarrhythmic drugs?
The action potential and effective refractory period of the cardiac action potential
Why may it take trials of several medications and doses to find the right treatment for a patient with an arrhythmia?
Because everyone responds differently to medications
What is an example of a medication used to treat arrhythmias?
All of the above
What is the effect of drugs that block inward sodium ion flow on the cardiac action potential?
Suppress the maximum upstroke velocity
What is the effect of potassium channel blocking drugs on the cardiac action potential?
Prolong repolarization and the QTc interval
What is the site of action of some cardiac antiarrhythmic drugs?
α subunit of L and T calcium ion channels
What is the basis for the classification of cardiac arrhythmic drugs?
Ability to control arrhythmias by blocking specific ion channels and currents
What is the common mechanism of action of all anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Blocking the movement of electrolytes within the electrical conduction pathways of the myocardium
What is the name of the classification system that groups anti-arrhythmic drugs based on their ability to block the movement of ions across the myocardial cell membrane?
Vaughan Williams classification system
In which type of acetylators does the blood level of NAPA exceed that of procainamide?
Rapid acetylators
What percentage of an administered dose of procainamide is recovered unchanged in the urine as paraaminobenzoic acid?
2% to 10%
What is the main reason for the decreased use of procainamide?
Availability of newer agents
What is the effect of rapid IV injection of procainamide on blood pressure?
Hypotension
What is the effect of high plasma concentrations of procainamide on the atrioventricular node and intraventricular conduction system?
Decreased conduction
What is the effect of hyperkalemia on direct myocardial depression caused by procainamide?
Increases the depression
What is the effect of digoxin on the heart rate?
Decreases the heart rate
What is the effect of digoxin on norepinephrine levels?
Decreases norepinephrine levels
What type of medicine is propranolol?
Beta blocker
What is one of the ways propranolol can help if you have a heart problem?
Help prevent future heart disease
What is another condition that propranolol can be used to treat?
All of the above
What is the brand name of propranolol used to treat infantile hemangioma?
Hemangeol
Learn about the role of ECG machines in detecting heart activity and the various medications used to treat arrhythmias. Discover the types of drugs used, including anti-arrhythmic drugs, and how they are tailored to individual patients.
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