Rhythm Strips & EKG Flashcards

Atrial Fibrillation

• Irregular, often rapid heart rate causing poor blood flow.
• Risk factors include heart disease, hypertension, and alcohol consumption.
• Symptoms may include palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

Atrial Flutter

• Heart condition characterized by rapid atrial contractions.
• May lead to blood clots, stroke, and other heart-related complications.
• Commonly presents as "sawtooth" waves on an EKG.

NSR with PAC (Normal Sinus Rhythm with Premature Atrial Contractions)

• Normal heart rhythm with occasional early beats originating in the atria.
• PACs are often benign but can indicate underlying heart issues.

Paced Atrial

• Atrial pacing indicates that the heart’s rhythms are controlled artificially.
• This condition shows pacing spikes on an EKG.

Sinus Rhythm

• Normal heart rhythm generated by the sinoatrial node.
• Characterized by consistent heart rates typically between 60-100 beats per minute.

Sinus Arrest

• Pauses in the heart's normal rhythm due to failure of the sinoatrial node.
• Can be symptomatic and lead to fainting or dizziness.

Sinus Arrhythmia

• Variation in heart rate that occurs with breathing.
• Generally not hazardous and considered a normal physiological response.

Sinus Bradycardia

• Reduced heart rate typically below 60 beats per minute.
• Can be normal in athletes or indicative of medical conditions.

Sinus Tachycardia

• Elevated heart rate over 100 beats per minute while maintaining a normal rhythm.
• Triggered by factors like exercise, anxiety, or fever.

SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)

• Rapid heart rhythm originating above the ventricles.
• Can cause palpitations, dizziness, and chest pain; often requires intervention.

Second Degree AV Block Type 2

• Intermittent failure of electrical impulses to reach the ventricles.
• More concerning than Type 1; can progress to more serious heart block.

Second Degree AV Block with 2:1

• Every other atrial impulse fails to conduct to the ventricles.
• Identified by a pattern of two P waves preceding one QRS complex.

3rd Degree AV Block (Complete Heart Block)

• No communication between atria and ventricles.
• Requires urgent treatment, often with a pacemaker.

Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm (AIVR)

• Occurs when the lower heart chambers beat faster than normal.
• Usually benign in nature and may be seen post-myocardial infarction.

Accelerated Junctional Rhythm

• Speeds above the normal range (40-60 bpm) produced by junctional nodes.
• Characterized by absent or inverted P waves on the EKG.

Idioventricular Rhythm (IVR)

• Heart rhythm originating in ventricles with a slow heart rate (20-40 bpm).
• May appear in situations like complete heart block.

Junctional Rhythm

• Originates from the junctional area of the heart at slower rates than normal.
• P waves may be absent or potentially retrograde (inverted).

Junctional Tachycardia

• Rapid heart rhythm originating from the junction between the atria and ventricles.
• Presents with narrow QRS complexes on an EKG.

NSR with First Degree AV Block

• Characterized by a prolonged PR interval.
• Generally considered benign but indicates conduction delay.

NSR with PJC (Normal Sinus Rhythm with Premature Junctional Contractions)

• Features early beats originating from the junctional area.
• Often benign and not usually symptomatic.

Second Degree AV Block Type 1 (Wenckebach or Mobitz Type I)

• Progressive lengthening of PR interval leads to dropped beats.
• Generally less serious than Type 2 blocks and often asymptomatic.

Ventricular Fibrillation (VFib)

• Life-threatening erratic heart rhythm, preventing effective blood flow.
• Requires immediate defibrillation for patient survival.

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)

• Fast heart rhythm originating from the ventricles.
• Can be sustained or nonsustained and may lead to VFib.

First Degree AV Block

• Characterized by prolonged PR interval.
• Often asymptomatic and not significant in most cases.

Normal Sinus Rhythm

• Reliable and consistent heart rhythm originating from the sinoatrial node.
• Heart rate usually ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute without irregularities.

Torsades de Pointes

• A form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT interval.
• Can lead to VFib; requires immediate medical evaluation.

Third Degree Heart Block (Complete Heart Block)

• Total failure of atria and ventricles to communicate.
• Impairs the heart's ability to pump effectively; often requires pacemaker placement.

Asystole

• Total absence of electrical activity in the heart, resulting in no heartbeat.
• Considered a critical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

PACs (Premature Atrial Contractions)

• Early heartbeats originating in the atria.
• Typically benign but may indicate atrial irritability or other underlying issues.

PVC (Premature Ventricular Contractions)

• Early heartbeats arising from the ventricles.
• Can be isolated or part of a pattern; may require monitoring if frequent.