RELIAS ASSESSMENTS ASSISTANCE
MATERIAL DYSRHYTHMIAS QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
EKGA2interpretationA2-A2Ans--
OneA2ofA2theA2mostA2usefulA2andA2commonlyA2usedA2diagnosticA2toolsA2isA2electrocardiog
raphyA2(EKG)A2whichA2measuresA2theA2heart'sA2electricalA2activityA2asA2waveforms.A2AnA2
EKGA2usesA2electrodesA2attachedA2toA2theA2skinA2toA2detectA2electricA2currentA2movingA2t
hroughA2theA2heart.A2TheseA2signalsA2areA2transmittedA2toA2produceA2aA2recordA2ofA2cardi
acA2activity.A2ArrhythmiaA2orA2dysrhythmiaA2areA2disturbancesA2inA2theA2normalA2cardiacA2
rhythmA2ofA2theA2heartA2whichA2occursA2asA2aA2resultA2ofA2alterationsA2withinA2theA2condu
ctionA2ofA2electricalA2impulses.A2TheseA2impulsesA2stimulateA2andA2coordinateA2atrialA2an
dA2ventricularA2myocardialA2contractionsA2thatA2provideA2cardiacA2output.
SinusA2TachycardiaA2-A2Ans--
SinusA2tachycardiaA2isA2aA2heartA2rateA2greaterA2thanA2100A2beatsA2perA2minuteA2thatA2ori
ginatedA2fromA2theA2sinusA2node.
Rate:A2100A2toA2180A2beatsA2perA2minute
PA2WavesA2precedeA2eachA2QRSA2complex
PRA2intervalA2isA2normal
QRSA2complexA2isA2normal
ConductionA2isA2normal
RhythmA2isA2regular
CausesA2ofA2sinusA2tachycardiaA2mayA2includeA2exercise,A2anxiety,A2fever,A2drugs,A2ane
mia,A2heartA2failure,A2hypovolemiaA2andA2shock.A2SinusA2tachycardiaA2isA2oftenA2asympto
matic.A2ManagementA2howeverA2isA2directedA2atA2theA2treatmentA2ofA2theA2primaryA2caus
e.A2CarotidA2sinusA2pressureA2(carotidA2massage)A2orA2aA2betaA2blockerA2mayA2beA2usedA
2toA2reduceA2heartA2rate.
SinusA2BradycardiaA2-A2Ans--
SinusA2bradycardiaA2isA2aA2heartA2rateA2lessA2thanA260A2beatsA2perA2minuteA2andA2originat
esA2fromA2theA2sinusA2nodeA2(asA2theA2termA2"sinus"A2refersA2toA2sinoatrialA2node).A2ItA2ha
sA2theA2followingA2characteristics
RateA2isA2lessA2thanA260A2beatsA2perA2minute
PA2WavesA2precedeA2eachA2QRSA2complex
PRA2intervalA2isA2normal
QRSA2complexA2isA2normal
ConductionA2isA2normal
RhythmA2isA2regular
CausesA2mayA2includeA2drugs,A2vagalA2stimulation,A2hypoendocrineA2states,A2hypothermi
a,A2orA2sinusA2nodeA2involvementA2inA2MI.A2ThisA2arrhythmiaA2mayA2beA2normalA2inA2athlet
esA2asA2theyA2haveA2qualityA2strokeA2volume.A2ItA2isA2oftenA2asymptomaticA2butA2manifest
ationsA2mayA2include:A2syncope,A2fatigue,A2dizziness.A2ManagementA2includesA2treatingA2
, theA2underlyingA2causeA2andA2administeringA2anticholinergicA2drugsA2likeA2atropineA2sulfa
teA2asA2prescribed.
PrematureA2AtrialA2ContractionA2-A2Ans--
PrematureA2AtrialA2ContractionA2areA2ectopicA2beatsA2thatA2originatesA2fromA2theA2atriaA2a
ndA2theyA2areA2notA2rhythms.A2CellsA2inA2theA2heartA2startsA2toA2fireA2orA2goA2offA2beforeA2t
heA2normalA2heartbeatA2isA2supposedA2toA2occur.A2TheseA2areA2calledA2heartA2palpitation
sA2andA2hasA2theA2followingA2characteristics:
PrematureA2andA2abnormal-
lookingA2PA2wavesA2thatA2differA2inA2configurationA2fromA2normalA2PA2waves
QRSA2complexA2afterA2PA2wavesA2exceptA2inA2veryA2earlyA2orA2blockedA2PACs
PA2wavesA2oftenA2buriedA2inA2theA2precedingA2TA2waveA2orA2identifiedA2inA2theA2preceding
A2TA2wave.
CausesA2includesA2coronaryA2orA2valvularA2heartA2diseases,A2atrialA2ischemia,A2coronaryA
2arteryA2atherosclerosis,A2heartA2failure,A2COPD,A2electrolyteA2imbalanceA2andA2hypoxia.A
2UsuallyA2thereA2isA2noA2treatmentA2neededA2butA2mayA2includeA2procainamideA2andA2qui
nidineA2administrationA2(antidysrhythmicA2drugs)A2andA2carotidA2sinusA2massage.
AtrialA2FlutterA2-A2Ans--
AtrialA2flutterA2isA2anA2abnormalA2rhythmA2thatA2occursA2inA2theA2atriaA2ofA2theA2heart.A2Atri
alA2flutterA2hasA2anA2atrialA2rhythmA2thatA2isA2regularA2butA2hasA2anA2atrialA2rateA2ofA2250A2t
oA2400A2beats/
minute.A2ItA2hasA2sawtoothA2appearance.A2QRSA2complexesA2areA2uniformA2inA2shapeA2b
utA2oftenA2irregularA2inA2rate.
NormalA2atrialA2rhythm
AbnormalA2atrialA2rate:A2250A2toA2400A2beats/minute
SawtoothA2PA2waveA2configuration
QRSA2complexesA2uniformA2inA2shapeA2butA2irregularA2inA2rate
CausesA2includesA2heartA2failure,A2tricuspidA2valveA2orA2mitralA2valveA2diseases,A2pulmon
aryA2embolism,A2corA2pulmonale,A2inferiorA2wallA2MI,A2carditisA2andA2digoxinA2toxicity.
ManagementA2ifA2theA2patientA2isA2unstableA2withA2ventricularA2rateA2ofA2greaterA2thanA215
0A2bpm,A2prepareA2forA2immediateA2cardioversion.A2IfA2patientA2isA2stable,A2drugA2therapy
A2mayA2includeA2calciumA2channelA2blocker,A2beta-
adrenergicA2blockers,A2orA2antiarhythmics.A2AnticoagulationA2mayA2beA2necessaryA2asA2t
hereA2wouldA2beA2poolingA2ofA2bloodA2inA2theA2atria.
AtrialA2FibrillationA2-A2Ans--
AtrialA2fibrillationA2isA2disorganizedA2andA2uncoordinatedA2twitchingA2ofA2atrialA2musculatu
reA2causedA2byA2overlyA2rapidA2productionA2ofA2atrialA2impulses.A2ThisA2arrhythmiaA2hasA2
theA2followingA2characteristics:
AtrialA2Rate:A2350A2toA2600A2bpm
VentricularA2Rate:A2120A2toA2200A2bpm
PA2waveA2isA2notA2discernibleA2withA2anA2irregularA2baseline
PRA2intervalA2isA2notA2measurable
QRSA2complexA2isA2normal
RhythmA2isA2irregularA2andA2usuallyA2rapidA2unlessA2controlled.
MATERIAL DYSRHYTHMIAS QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
EKGA2interpretationA2-A2Ans--
OneA2ofA2theA2mostA2usefulA2andA2commonlyA2usedA2diagnosticA2toolsA2isA2electrocardiog
raphyA2(EKG)A2whichA2measuresA2theA2heart'sA2electricalA2activityA2asA2waveforms.A2AnA2
EKGA2usesA2electrodesA2attachedA2toA2theA2skinA2toA2detectA2electricA2currentA2movingA2t
hroughA2theA2heart.A2TheseA2signalsA2areA2transmittedA2toA2produceA2aA2recordA2ofA2cardi
acA2activity.A2ArrhythmiaA2orA2dysrhythmiaA2areA2disturbancesA2inA2theA2normalA2cardiacA2
rhythmA2ofA2theA2heartA2whichA2occursA2asA2aA2resultA2ofA2alterationsA2withinA2theA2condu
ctionA2ofA2electricalA2impulses.A2TheseA2impulsesA2stimulateA2andA2coordinateA2atrialA2an
dA2ventricularA2myocardialA2contractionsA2thatA2provideA2cardiacA2output.
SinusA2TachycardiaA2-A2Ans--
SinusA2tachycardiaA2isA2aA2heartA2rateA2greaterA2thanA2100A2beatsA2perA2minuteA2thatA2ori
ginatedA2fromA2theA2sinusA2node.
Rate:A2100A2toA2180A2beatsA2perA2minute
PA2WavesA2precedeA2eachA2QRSA2complex
PRA2intervalA2isA2normal
QRSA2complexA2isA2normal
ConductionA2isA2normal
RhythmA2isA2regular
CausesA2ofA2sinusA2tachycardiaA2mayA2includeA2exercise,A2anxiety,A2fever,A2drugs,A2ane
mia,A2heartA2failure,A2hypovolemiaA2andA2shock.A2SinusA2tachycardiaA2isA2oftenA2asympto
matic.A2ManagementA2howeverA2isA2directedA2atA2theA2treatmentA2ofA2theA2primaryA2caus
e.A2CarotidA2sinusA2pressureA2(carotidA2massage)A2orA2aA2betaA2blockerA2mayA2beA2usedA
2toA2reduceA2heartA2rate.
SinusA2BradycardiaA2-A2Ans--
SinusA2bradycardiaA2isA2aA2heartA2rateA2lessA2thanA260A2beatsA2perA2minuteA2andA2originat
esA2fromA2theA2sinusA2nodeA2(asA2theA2termA2"sinus"A2refersA2toA2sinoatrialA2node).A2ItA2ha
sA2theA2followingA2characteristics
RateA2isA2lessA2thanA260A2beatsA2perA2minute
PA2WavesA2precedeA2eachA2QRSA2complex
PRA2intervalA2isA2normal
QRSA2complexA2isA2normal
ConductionA2isA2normal
RhythmA2isA2regular
CausesA2mayA2includeA2drugs,A2vagalA2stimulation,A2hypoendocrineA2states,A2hypothermi
a,A2orA2sinusA2nodeA2involvementA2inA2MI.A2ThisA2arrhythmiaA2mayA2beA2normalA2inA2athlet
esA2asA2theyA2haveA2qualityA2strokeA2volume.A2ItA2isA2oftenA2asymptomaticA2butA2manifest
ationsA2mayA2include:A2syncope,A2fatigue,A2dizziness.A2ManagementA2includesA2treatingA2
, theA2underlyingA2causeA2andA2administeringA2anticholinergicA2drugsA2likeA2atropineA2sulfa
teA2asA2prescribed.
PrematureA2AtrialA2ContractionA2-A2Ans--
PrematureA2AtrialA2ContractionA2areA2ectopicA2beatsA2thatA2originatesA2fromA2theA2atriaA2a
ndA2theyA2areA2notA2rhythms.A2CellsA2inA2theA2heartA2startsA2toA2fireA2orA2goA2offA2beforeA2t
heA2normalA2heartbeatA2isA2supposedA2toA2occur.A2TheseA2areA2calledA2heartA2palpitation
sA2andA2hasA2theA2followingA2characteristics:
PrematureA2andA2abnormal-
lookingA2PA2wavesA2thatA2differA2inA2configurationA2fromA2normalA2PA2waves
QRSA2complexA2afterA2PA2wavesA2exceptA2inA2veryA2earlyA2orA2blockedA2PACs
PA2wavesA2oftenA2buriedA2inA2theA2precedingA2TA2waveA2orA2identifiedA2inA2theA2preceding
A2TA2wave.
CausesA2includesA2coronaryA2orA2valvularA2heartA2diseases,A2atrialA2ischemia,A2coronaryA
2arteryA2atherosclerosis,A2heartA2failure,A2COPD,A2electrolyteA2imbalanceA2andA2hypoxia.A
2UsuallyA2thereA2isA2noA2treatmentA2neededA2butA2mayA2includeA2procainamideA2andA2qui
nidineA2administrationA2(antidysrhythmicA2drugs)A2andA2carotidA2sinusA2massage.
AtrialA2FlutterA2-A2Ans--
AtrialA2flutterA2isA2anA2abnormalA2rhythmA2thatA2occursA2inA2theA2atriaA2ofA2theA2heart.A2Atri
alA2flutterA2hasA2anA2atrialA2rhythmA2thatA2isA2regularA2butA2hasA2anA2atrialA2rateA2ofA2250A2t
oA2400A2beats/
minute.A2ItA2hasA2sawtoothA2appearance.A2QRSA2complexesA2areA2uniformA2inA2shapeA2b
utA2oftenA2irregularA2inA2rate.
NormalA2atrialA2rhythm
AbnormalA2atrialA2rate:A2250A2toA2400A2beats/minute
SawtoothA2PA2waveA2configuration
QRSA2complexesA2uniformA2inA2shapeA2butA2irregularA2inA2rate
CausesA2includesA2heartA2failure,A2tricuspidA2valveA2orA2mitralA2valveA2diseases,A2pulmon
aryA2embolism,A2corA2pulmonale,A2inferiorA2wallA2MI,A2carditisA2andA2digoxinA2toxicity.
ManagementA2ifA2theA2patientA2isA2unstableA2withA2ventricularA2rateA2ofA2greaterA2thanA215
0A2bpm,A2prepareA2forA2immediateA2cardioversion.A2IfA2patientA2isA2stable,A2drugA2therapy
A2mayA2includeA2calciumA2channelA2blocker,A2beta-
adrenergicA2blockers,A2orA2antiarhythmics.A2AnticoagulationA2mayA2beA2necessaryA2asA2t
hereA2wouldA2beA2poolingA2ofA2bloodA2inA2theA2atria.
AtrialA2FibrillationA2-A2Ans--
AtrialA2fibrillationA2isA2disorganizedA2andA2uncoordinatedA2twitchingA2ofA2atrialA2musculatu
reA2causedA2byA2overlyA2rapidA2productionA2ofA2atrialA2impulses.A2ThisA2arrhythmiaA2hasA2
theA2followingA2characteristics:
AtrialA2Rate:A2350A2toA2600A2bpm
VentricularA2Rate:A2120A2toA2200A2bpm
PA2waveA2isA2notA2discernibleA2withA2anA2irregularA2baseline
PRA2intervalA2isA2notA2measurable
QRSA2complexA2isA2normal
RhythmA2isA2irregularA2andA2usuallyA2rapidA2unlessA2controlled.
