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Cardiac Arrhythmias
An abnormality of the cardiac rhythm is called a cardiac arrhythmia. The Origin, Rate, Rhythm, Conduct velocity and sequence of heart activation are abnormally.
Impulse conduction
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Depolarization
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Cardiac Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias may cause sudden death, syncope, heart failure, dizziness, palpitations or no symptoms at all. There are two main types of arrhythmia:
bradycardia: the heart rate is slow (< 60 b.p.m). tachycardia: the heart rate is fast (> 100 b.p.m).
Arrhythmia Presentation
Palpitation. Dizziness. Chest Pain. Dyspnea. Fainting. Sudden cardiac death.
Etiology
Physiological Pathological:
Valvular heart disease. Ischemic heart disease. Hypertensive heart diseases. Congenital heart disease. Cardiomyopathies. Carditis. RV dysplasia. Drug related. Pericarditis. Pulmonary diseases. Others.
Tachyarrhythmias
Ventricular
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) Ventricular fibrillation (VF) Ventricular premature beats
Atrial
Atrial fibrillation (AF) Atrial flutter Atrio-ventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) Atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT) Atrial tachycardia (AT) Sinus tachycardia Inappropriate sinus tachycardia Atrial premature beats
Bradyarrhythmias
Sinus bradycardia Sinus arrest Sick sinus syndrome Carotid sinus hypersensitivity 1st degree heart block 2nd degree heart block 3rd degree heart block
Key Points
Age Symptoms
Asymptomatic/ Syncope/ Palpitations/ Chest pain/ Dyspnoea
Mode of onset
Gradual or rapid
Mode of termination
With a valsalva/ vagal manouevres
Drug history
Anti-arrhythmics/ Stimulants/ Antibiotics- consult the BNF Toxicity- accidental overdose
Arrhythmia Assessment
ECG 24h Holter monitor Echocardiogram Stress test Coronary angiography Electrophysiology study
Mechanism of Arrhythmia
1. 2. 3. 1. 2. Abnormal heart pulse formation Sinus pulse Ectopic pulse Triggered activity Abnormal heart pulse conduction Reentry Conduct block
Classification of Arrhythmia
Abnormal heart pulse formation
1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. Sinus arrhythmia Atrial arrhythmia Atrioventricular junctional arrhythmia Ventricular arrhythmia
SINUS TACHYCARDIA
Rate: 101-160/min P wave: sinus QRS: normal Conduction: normal Rhythm: regular or slightly irregular
The clinical significance of this dysrhythmia depends on the underlying cause. It may be normal. Underlying causes include: increased circulating catecholamines CHF hypoxia PE increased temperature stress response to pain Treatment includes identification of the underlying cause and correction.
SINUS BRADYCARDIA
Rate: 40-59 bpm P wave: sinus QRS: Normal (.06-.12) Conduction: P-R normal or slightly prolonged at slower rates Rhythm: regular or slightly irregular This rhythm is often seen as a normal variation in athletes, during sleep, or in response to a vagal maneuver. If the bradycardia becomes slower than the SA node pacemaker, a junctional rhythm may occur. Treatment includes: treat the underlying cause, atropine, isuprel, or artificial pacing if patient is hemodynamically compromised.
SINUS ARRHYTHIMIA
Rate: 45-100/bpm P wave: sinus QRS: normal Conduction: normal Rhythm: regularly irregular The rate usually increases with inspiration and decreases with expiration. This rhythm is most commonly seen with respiration due to fluctuations in vagal tone. The non respiratory form is present in diseased hearts and sometimes confused with sinus arrset (also known as "sinus pause"). Treatment is not usually required unless symptomatic bradycardia is present.
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Rate: atrial rate usually between 400-650/bpm. P wave: not present; wavy baseline is seen instead. QRS: normal Conduction: variable AV conduction; if untreated the ventricular response is usually rapid. Rhythm: irregularly irregular. (This is the hallmark of this dysrhythmia). Atrial fibrillation may occur paroxysmally, but it often becomes chronic. It is usually associated with COPD, CHF or other heart disease. Treatment includes:
Digoxin to slow the AV conduction rate. Cardioversion may also be necessary to terminate this rhythm.
Rate: atrial rate is usually normal; ventricular rate is usually less than 70/bpm. The atrial rate is always faster than the ventricular rate. P wave: normal with constant P-P intervals, but not "married" to the QRS complexes. QRS: may be normal or widened depending on where the escape pacemaker is located in the conduction system Conduction: atrial and ventricular activities are unrelated due to the complete blocking of the atrial impulses to the ventricles. Rhythm: irregular Complete block of the atrial impulses occurs at the A-V junction, common bundle or bilateral bundle branches. Another pacemaker distal to the block takes over in order to activate the ventricles or ventricular standstill will occur. May be caused by: digitalis toxicity acute infection MI and degeneration of the conductive tissue. Treatment modalities include: external pacing and atropine for acute, symptomatic episodes and
PVC BIGEMNY
Rate: variable P wave: usually obscured by the QRS, PST or T wave of the PVC QRS: wide > 0.12 seconds; morphology is bizarre with the ST segment and the T wave opposite in polarity. May be multifocal and exhibit different morphologies. Conduction: the impulse originates below the branching portion of the Bundle of His; full compensatory pause is characteristic. Rhythm: irregular. PVC's may occur in singles, couplets or triplets; or in bigeminy, trigeminy or quadrigeminy.
PVCs can occur in healthy hearts. For example, an increase in circulating catecholamines can cause PVCs. They also occur in diseased hearts and from drug (such as digitalis) toxicities. Treatment is required if they are: associated with an acute MI, occur as couplets, bigeminy or trigeminy, are multifocal, or are frequent (>6/min). Interventions include: lidocaine, pronestyl, or quinidine.
VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA
Rate: usually between 100 to 220/bpm, but can be as rapid as 250/bpm P wave: obscured if present and are unrelated to the QRS complexes. QRS: wide and bizarre morphology Conduction: as with PVCs Rhythm: three or more ventricular beats in a row; may be regular or irregular. Ventricular tachycardia almost always occurs in diseased hearts. Some common causes are: CAD acute MI digitalis toxicity CHF ventricular aneurysms. Patients are often symptomatic with this dysrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia can quickly deteriorate into ventricular fibrillation. Electrical countershock is the intervention of choice if the
TORSADE DE POINTES
Rate: usually between 150 to 220/bpm, P wave: obscured if present QRS: wide and bizarre morphology Conduction: as with PVCs Rhythm: Irregular Paroxysmal starting and stopping suddenly Hallmark of this rhythm is the upward and downward deflection of the QRS complexes around the baseline. The term Torsade de Pointes means "twisting about the points." Consider it V-tach if it doesnt respond to antiarrythmic therapy or treatments Caused by: drugs which lengthen the QT interval such as quinidine electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypokalemia myocardial ischemia Treatment: Synchronized cardioversion is indicated when the patient is unstable. IV magnesium IV Potassium to correct an electrolyte imbalance
VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION
Rate: unattainable P wave: may be present, but obscured by ventricular waves QRS: not apparent Conduction: chaotic electrical activity Rhythm: chaotic electrical activity This dysrhythmia results in the absence of cardiac output. Almost always occurs with serious heart disease, especially acute MI. The course of treatment for ventricular fibrillation includes:
immediate defibrillation and ACLS protocols. Identification and treatment of the underlying cause is also needed.
Absent P wave Widened QRS > 0.12 sec. Also called " dying heart" rhythm Pacemaker will most likely be needed to re-establish a normal heart rate. Causes: Myocardial Infarction Pacemaker Failure Metabolic imbalance Myoardial Ischemia Treatment goals include measures to improve cardiac output and establish a normal rhythm and rate. Options include: Atropine Pacing Caution: Supressing the ventricular rhythm is contraindicated because that rhythm protects the heart from complete standstill.
Rate: 20 to 40 beats per minute P wave: Absent QRS: Widened Conduction: Failure of primary pacemaker Rhythm: Regular
IDIOVENTRICULAR RHYTHM
Therapy Principal
Pathogenesis therapy Stop the arrhythmia immediately if the hemodynamic was unstable Individual therapy
MANAGEMENT OF ARRHYTHMIAS
Pharmacological therapy. Cardioversion. Pacemaker therapy. Surgical therapy e.g. aneurysmal excision. Interventional therapy ablation.
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