Relias Dysrhythmia Basic Test 35 Questions and
Answers 2023 (Basic A Dysrhythmia) GRADED A LATEST
VERSION
dysrhythmia aka arrhythmia - ANSWER: - abnormal cardiac rhythms
which can cause disturbances of:
rate, rhythm, or both rate and rhythm
how are dysrhythmias identified? - ANSWER: Electrographic Waveform Analysis
(ECG)
what controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat? - ANSWER: the heart's electrical
system
explain the heart's electrical system - ANSWER: Each electrical signal (impulse)
begins in a group of cells called the sinus node or sinoatrial (SA) node. The SA node is
located in the right atrium. In a healthy adult heart at rest, the SA node sends an
electrical signal to begin a new heartbeat 60 to 100 times a minute. (This rate may
be slower in very fit athletes.)
From the SA node, the electrical signal travels through the right and left atria. It
causes the atria to contract and pump blood into the ventricles.
The electrical signal then moves down to a group of cells called the atrioventricular
(AV) node, located between the atria and the ventricles. Here, the signal slows down
slightly, allowing the ventricles time to finish filling with blood.
The electrical signal then leaves the AV node and travels to the ventricles. It causes
the ventricles to contract and pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The
ventricles then relax, and the heartbeat process starts all over again in the SA node.
normal sinus rhythm (characteristics) - ANSWER: 1. Rate:60-100 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: upright .06-.12 sec
3. PR interval: .12-.20 sec
4. QRS complex: <.03 sec
Sinus Bradycardia - ANSWER: in sinus bradycardia, the conduction pathway is the
same but the impulse generates in the SA node slower than usual causing a slowed
heart rate >60
-symptomatic sinus bradycardia refers to a HR >60 and is inadequate for the patients
condition causing symptoms
sinus bradycardia (ECG characteristics) - ANSWER: 1. Rate: < 60 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
,2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
sinus bradycardia clinical associations - ANSWER: 1. may be a normal in ATHLETES
and during SLEEP
2. occurs in response to:
carotid sinus massage
Valsalva maneuver
hypothermia
increased intraocular pressure
vagal stimulation
and certain drugs ( Bblockers, Ca channel blockers)
3. disease states associated with it:
hypothyroidism
increased intracranial pressure
hypoglycemia
inferior MI
Sinus Bradycardia: Clinical Significance - ANSWER: clinical significance of sinus
bradycardia depends on how the pt tolerates it.
S&S of symptomatic sinus bradycardia include:
pale, cool skin
hypotension
weakness
angina
dizziness/syncope
confusion/disorientation
shortness of breath
treatment for symptomatic sinus bradycardia - ANSWER: atropine (anticholinergic)
transcutaneous pacing
dopamine/epinephrine infusion
permanent pacemaker
if due to drugs, drugs may be held
transcutaneous pacing - ANSWER: aka external pacing. Temporary means of pacing a
patient's heart during a medical emergency, accomplished by delivering pulses of
, electric current through the patient's chest, which stimulates the heart to contract.
The most common indication for transcutaneous pacing is an abnormally slow heart
rate.
-pads are placed on the patient's chest. anterior/posterior position is preferred.
"Sandwiching" the heart between the two pads minimizes transthoracic electrical
impedance
Sinus Tachycardia - ANSWER: rate is faster than usual but rhythm is normal. impulse
is generated quicker than normal in SA node
sinus tachycardia (characteristics) - ANSWER: 1. Rate:101-200 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Associations - ANSWER: associated with physiologic and
psychologic stressors
or drugs
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Significance - ANSWER: depends on pts tolerance of the
increased HR
- may have
dizziness, dyspnea, and hypotension because of decreased CO
Sinus Tachycardia: Treatment - ANSWER: underlying cause of tachycardia guides the
treatment
-ex: if pt is experiencing tachycardia from pain, effective pain management is
important to treat tachycardia
- in clinically stable pts, vagal maneuvers can be attempted. In addition, IV Bblockers
can be given to decrease HR and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption
Premature Atrial Contraction (PAC) - ANSWER: a PAC is a contraction starting at an
ectopic focus in the atrium and coming sooner than the next expected sinus beat
-P wave is abnormally shaped bc the impulse travels across the atria in an abnormal
pathway
-HR varies with underlying rate and frequencies of the PAC, and the rhythm is
irregular. P wave has a different shape from the P wave that originates from SA
node, or it may be hidden in the preceding T wave. PR interval may be shorter or
longer but its within normal limits. QRS is usually normal. If the QRS is .12 sec or
more, abnormal conduction through the ventricles occurs
- treatment: no stimulants such as caffeine, maybe a Bblocker
Answers 2023 (Basic A Dysrhythmia) GRADED A LATEST
VERSION
dysrhythmia aka arrhythmia - ANSWER: - abnormal cardiac rhythms
which can cause disturbances of:
rate, rhythm, or both rate and rhythm
how are dysrhythmias identified? - ANSWER: Electrographic Waveform Analysis
(ECG)
what controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat? - ANSWER: the heart's electrical
system
explain the heart's electrical system - ANSWER: Each electrical signal (impulse)
begins in a group of cells called the sinus node or sinoatrial (SA) node. The SA node is
located in the right atrium. In a healthy adult heart at rest, the SA node sends an
electrical signal to begin a new heartbeat 60 to 100 times a minute. (This rate may
be slower in very fit athletes.)
From the SA node, the electrical signal travels through the right and left atria. It
causes the atria to contract and pump blood into the ventricles.
The electrical signal then moves down to a group of cells called the atrioventricular
(AV) node, located between the atria and the ventricles. Here, the signal slows down
slightly, allowing the ventricles time to finish filling with blood.
The electrical signal then leaves the AV node and travels to the ventricles. It causes
the ventricles to contract and pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The
ventricles then relax, and the heartbeat process starts all over again in the SA node.
normal sinus rhythm (characteristics) - ANSWER: 1. Rate:60-100 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: upright .06-.12 sec
3. PR interval: .12-.20 sec
4. QRS complex: <.03 sec
Sinus Bradycardia - ANSWER: in sinus bradycardia, the conduction pathway is the
same but the impulse generates in the SA node slower than usual causing a slowed
heart rate >60
-symptomatic sinus bradycardia refers to a HR >60 and is inadequate for the patients
condition causing symptoms
sinus bradycardia (ECG characteristics) - ANSWER: 1. Rate: < 60 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
,2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
sinus bradycardia clinical associations - ANSWER: 1. may be a normal in ATHLETES
and during SLEEP
2. occurs in response to:
carotid sinus massage
Valsalva maneuver
hypothermia
increased intraocular pressure
vagal stimulation
and certain drugs ( Bblockers, Ca channel blockers)
3. disease states associated with it:
hypothyroidism
increased intracranial pressure
hypoglycemia
inferior MI
Sinus Bradycardia: Clinical Significance - ANSWER: clinical significance of sinus
bradycardia depends on how the pt tolerates it.
S&S of symptomatic sinus bradycardia include:
pale, cool skin
hypotension
weakness
angina
dizziness/syncope
confusion/disorientation
shortness of breath
treatment for symptomatic sinus bradycardia - ANSWER: atropine (anticholinergic)
transcutaneous pacing
dopamine/epinephrine infusion
permanent pacemaker
if due to drugs, drugs may be held
transcutaneous pacing - ANSWER: aka external pacing. Temporary means of pacing a
patient's heart during a medical emergency, accomplished by delivering pulses of
, electric current through the patient's chest, which stimulates the heart to contract.
The most common indication for transcutaneous pacing is an abnormally slow heart
rate.
-pads are placed on the patient's chest. anterior/posterior position is preferred.
"Sandwiching" the heart between the two pads minimizes transthoracic electrical
impedance
Sinus Tachycardia - ANSWER: rate is faster than usual but rhythm is normal. impulse
is generated quicker than normal in SA node
sinus tachycardia (characteristics) - ANSWER: 1. Rate:101-200 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Associations - ANSWER: associated with physiologic and
psychologic stressors
or drugs
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Significance - ANSWER: depends on pts tolerance of the
increased HR
- may have
dizziness, dyspnea, and hypotension because of decreased CO
Sinus Tachycardia: Treatment - ANSWER: underlying cause of tachycardia guides the
treatment
-ex: if pt is experiencing tachycardia from pain, effective pain management is
important to treat tachycardia
- in clinically stable pts, vagal maneuvers can be attempted. In addition, IV Bblockers
can be given to decrease HR and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption
Premature Atrial Contraction (PAC) - ANSWER: a PAC is a contraction starting at an
ectopic focus in the atrium and coming sooner than the next expected sinus beat
-P wave is abnormally shaped bc the impulse travels across the atria in an abnormal
pathway
-HR varies with underlying rate and frequencies of the PAC, and the rhythm is
irregular. P wave has a different shape from the P wave that originates from SA
node, or it may be hidden in the preceding T wave. PR interval may be shorter or
longer but its within normal limits. QRS is usually normal. If the QRS is .12 sec or
more, abnormal conduction through the ventricles occurs
- treatment: no stimulants such as caffeine, maybe a Bblocker
