click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Arrhythmia | premature (extra) beats, supraventricular arrhythmias, ventriculararrhythmia, bradyarrhythmias |
Supraventricular Arrhythmias | atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome |
Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT) | electrical signals that begin in the atria and travel to the ventricles can reenter the atria, causing extra heartbeats; usually isn't dangerous; tends to occur in young people; it can happen during vigorous physical activity |
Wolfe-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPWS) | the heart's electrical signals travel along an extra pathway from the atria to the ventricles and disrupts the timing of the heart's electrical signals, causing the ventricles to beat very fast; can be life threatening |
Ventricular Arrhythmia | Abnormal rapid heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that originate in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) |
Bradyarrhythmias | is a slow heart rate, defined as a heart rate of under 60 beats per minute (BPM) in adults; also known as Bradycardia |
Sinus Bradycardia | heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute; might be normal; often seen in healthy, athletic people |
Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) | happens when the sinus node (natural pacemaker) does not work properly; arrhythmias can happen |
Sinus Pause (also called sinus arrest) | the heart may miss one or more beats because its natural pacemaker fails to activate the electrical system throughout the rest of the heart |
First Degree Atrioventricular Block (AV Block) | or PR prolongation, is a disease of the electrical conduction system of the heart in which the PR interval is lengthened beyond 0.20 seconds |
Second-Degree Atrioventricular Block | a disease of the electrical conduction system of the heart. It is a conduction block between the atria and ventricles. |
Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block | also known as complete heart block, is a medical condition in which the impulse generated in the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the atrium of the heart does not propagate to the ventricles. |
Bundle Branch Block | is a condition in which there's a delay or obstruction along the pathway that electrical impulses travel to make your heart beat. |
Pacemaker | small device that use batteries to send a small electric stimulation to the heart; work only when needed |
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) | or biventricular pacing, coordinates and resynchronizes the contractions of the right and left ventricles, causing the heart to pump more effectively |
Coronary Sinus | a venous channel that empties into the right atrium, and it is fed by cardiac veins that lie on the outside of the left ventricle |
Cardiac Conversion | medical procedure by which an abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia) or cardiac arrhythmia is converted to a normal rhythm using electricity or drugs |
Pharmacologic Cardioversion | also called chemical cardioversion, uses antiarrhythmia medication instead of an electrical shock. |
Maze Procedure | a surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation. It can also be called a surgical ablation. The surgeon can use small incisions, radio waves, freezing, or microwave or ultrasound energy to create scar tissue |