Questions and Answers
What can a wandering baseline result from?
What is an interrupted baseline?
Obvious when there is a break in the tracing related to a disconnected or broken lead wire.
What measures can be taken to eliminate artifacts?
Decrease patient anxiety, provide warmth and comfort, ensure proper grounding of the machine, and regular maintenance.
What causes a wandering baseline?
Signup and view all the answers
What does an interrupted baseline indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following are considered more severe atrial arrhythmias?
Signup and view all the answers
What are ventricular arrhythmias that need immediate intervention?
Signup and view all the answers
What should a medical assistant know about abnormal waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be suspected if the QRS appears wide and bizarre?
Signup and view all the answers
What is involved in transmitting results from an EKG?
Signup and view all the answers
What is position deflection?
Signup and view all the answers
What does negative deflection refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the atrioventricular (AV) mode?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Wandering and Interrupted Baselines
- A wandering baseline results from poor electrode connection, influenced by substances like lotions or oils on the skin, causing interpretation difficulties.
- An interrupted baseline occurs with a visible break in the tracing, usually due to a disconnected or broken lead wire.
Eliminating Artifacts
- Somatic tremors can be minimized by reducing patient anxiety and ensuring a comfortable environment.
- Patients with involuntary muscle movements should place hands palms down under their buttocks to decrease interference.
- Proper grounding of the EKG machine is essential to reduce AC interference, achieved through using a three-prong plug and turning off unnecessary electronics.
- Electrodes should be applied to clean skin, avoiding creams and lotions to prevent a wandering baseline.
- EKG machines feature filters to manage external interference; ensuring these filters are activated is crucial.
- Regular maintenance and inspection of lead wires help identify potential issues and reduce artifact occurrence.
Atrial Arrhythmias
- Severe atrial arrhythmias include atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation.
- In atrial flutter, atrial contractions occur rapidly compared to ventricular contractions, while atrial fibrillation presents as quivering atria which may lead to blood clots.
Ventricular Arrhythmias
- Immediate intervention is required for ventricular fibrillation, characterized by quivering ventricles with no effective contractions.
- Asystole is evidenced when no heartbeat rhythm is noted on an EKG.
Wave Abnormalities
- Medical assistants must recognize normal configurations of P, QRS, and T waves.
- Positive deflection of the P wave is normal; negative deflection may indicate junction dysrhythmia due to improper impulse pathways.
Wide and Bizarre QRS Complex
- A wide and bizarre QRS suggests a ventricular arrhythmia, such as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which require provider notification.
Transmitting EKG Results
- Single-channel EKGs may need mounting before provider delivery, with results becoming part of the patient's medical record.
- Home patients might transmit results using phones, similar to fax machines; printed results must be added to the medical record for interpretation.
- Ambulatory monitor recordings are returned to the office for interpretation via a holter scanner or computer, also forming part of the legal health record.
Wave Deflections
- Position deflection entails upward curvature of waves in an EKG tracing.
- Negative deflection signifies a downward curvature of waves in an EKG tracing.
Atrioventricular (AV) Mode
- The AV mode functions as the secondary pacemaker located at the junction between the atria and ventricles.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of electrocardiography terms and definitions with these flashcards. Learn about wandering and interrupted baselines, their causes, and implications for tracing interpretation. Perfect for students and professionals in the medical field.
