3/29/25, 9:50 ACLS Rhythm Strips |
AM
ACLS RHYTHM STRIPS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED GRADED A++
Atrial Fibrillation
- Rhythm: irregularly irregular**
- Rate: slow or fast
- No identifiable P's**
- QRS usually narrow but may be wide
with conduction defect
Atrial Flutter
-Characterized by "saw tooth" atrial
activity
-Conduction ratio 2:1, 4:1, 8:1.
- If >150 bpm, may seriously compromise
cardiac output.
- Rate: atrial rate 250-400 (generally
300bpm)
Asystole
- Ventricular standstill, no electrical
activity, no cardiac output
- Occurs in cardiac arrest, may follow VF
or PEA
- Remember! No defibrillation with
Asystole
- Rate: absent due to absence
of ventricular activity.
Bundle Branch Block
- Rhythm can be regular or irregular
- Rate: Variable
- This block occurs in the right or left
bundle branches or in both. The
ventricle that is supplied by the blocked
bundle is depolarized abnormally.
- QRS: wide, >0.12 seconds
Couplet PVC
A pattern of two PVC's following a normal
complex
Idioventricular rhythm
- Escape rhythm (safety mechanism) to
prevent ventricular standstill
- HIS/purkinje system takes over as the
heart's pacemaker
- Treatment: pacing
- Rhythm: regular
- Rate: 20-40 bpm
- P wave: absent
- QRS: > .12 seconds (wide and bizarre)
1/
4
AM
ACLS RHYTHM STRIPS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED GRADED A++
Atrial Fibrillation
- Rhythm: irregularly irregular**
- Rate: slow or fast
- No identifiable P's**
- QRS usually narrow but may be wide
with conduction defect
Atrial Flutter
-Characterized by "saw tooth" atrial
activity
-Conduction ratio 2:1, 4:1, 8:1.
- If >150 bpm, may seriously compromise
cardiac output.
- Rate: atrial rate 250-400 (generally
300bpm)
Asystole
- Ventricular standstill, no electrical
activity, no cardiac output
- Occurs in cardiac arrest, may follow VF
or PEA
- Remember! No defibrillation with
Asystole
- Rate: absent due to absence
of ventricular activity.
Bundle Branch Block
- Rhythm can be regular or irregular
- Rate: Variable
- This block occurs in the right or left
bundle branches or in both. The
ventricle that is supplied by the blocked
bundle is depolarized abnormally.
- QRS: wide, >0.12 seconds
Couplet PVC
A pattern of two PVC's following a normal
complex
Idioventricular rhythm
- Escape rhythm (safety mechanism) to
prevent ventricular standstill
- HIS/purkinje system takes over as the
heart's pacemaker
- Treatment: pacing
- Rhythm: regular
- Rate: 20-40 bpm
- P wave: absent
- QRS: > .12 seconds (wide and bizarre)
1/
4
