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EKG information and interpretation

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Question
Answer
Automaticity   The cell's ability to spontaneously initiate an impulse  
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Excitability   indicates how well a cell responds to an electrical stimulus  
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Conductivity   how well the cell contracts after receiving a stimulus  
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Electrical activity   precedes mechanical activity  
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Mechanical activity   cannot occur without electrical activity  
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Electrical activity can occur   without being followed by mechanical activity  
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EKG   a graphic recording of the electrical activity generated by the functioning heart.  
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EKGs help to identify   Primary conduction abnormalities, dysrhythmias, cardiac hypertrophy, pericarditis, electrolyte imbalances, MI - site & extent  
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SA Node   The hearts main pacemaker 60-100 BPM  
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SA Node location   right atrium near the superior vena cava  
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AV Node location   lower part of right atria near the tricuspid valve  
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AV Node delays cardiac impulses for   protection of ventricles against excessively high atrial rates; allows atria to contract and empty blood into ventricle at end of diastole (atrial kick)  
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Tissue surrounding AV Node   contains pacemaker cells that fire at 40-60 BPM  
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Bundle of HIS   located in septum between the 2 ventricles  
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Purkinje Fibers   Terminal portion of the conduction system, third pacemaker 20-40 BPM  
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Atria   Low pressure chambers, reservoirs for respective ventricles  
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Right ventricle   low pressure chamber, sends deoxygenated blood to lungs  
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Left ventricle   high pressure chamber, send oxygenated blood to body  
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Tricuspid valve   AV valve between right atrium & right ventricle  
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Mitral valve   AV Valve between left atrium & left ventricle  
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Atrioventricular (AV) Valves   Tricuspid & Mitral, unidirectional, closure produces S1 (Lub) sound  
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Semilunar Valves   Pulmonic & Aortic, unidirectional, closure produces S2 (dub) sound  
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Pulmonic valve   Between right ventricle and pulmonary artery  
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Aortic valve   Between left ventricle and aorta  
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Depolarization   discharge of energy that accompanies the transfer of electricle charges across the cell membrane  
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Repolarization   return of electrical charges to their original state of readiness  
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Baseline   a starting or resting line of the EKG  
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Wave   a deflection from the baseline  
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Biphasic   a deflection wtih both positive and negative components  
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P Wave   first deflection; represents atrial depolarization  
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PR interval   from the beginning of the P wave to the onset of the Q wave; represents conduction of the impulse through the atria to the AV node (0.12 - 0.2 seconds)  
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QRS Complex   represents ventriclular depolarization; 0.06 - 0.12 seconds  
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ST Segment   End of S wave to beginning of the T wave  
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PR interval too long   > 0.2 seconds; indicates AV block  
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PR interval too short   <0.12 seconds; junctional rhythm  
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T wave   Repolarization of the ventricles  
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QRS Complex too long   >0.12 seconds; something slowing conduction; could be caused by bundle branch block, hypertrophied ventricle  
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ST Segment depression (below baseline)   hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte issues, healing MI  
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ST segment elevation (above baseline)   Infarction (MI)  
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QT Interval   beginning of Q wave to end of T wave; 0.36 - 0.44 seconds  
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T wave tall & tented   Hyperkalemia  
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T wave shape   should be upright and slightly rounded  
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QT Interval >0.44 seconds   BAD; puts pt at risk of developing V-tach or toursades  
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Normal heart rate   60-100 BPM  
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Tachycardia   >100 BPM  
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Bradycardia   <60 BPM  
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Cardiac Output   Stroke volume X Heart Rate  
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Sinus Tachycardia Interventions   Treat the cause; rest, oxygen, analgesics, fluids, diuretics, beta-blockers, digoxin  
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Causes of Sinus Tachycardia   CHF, hypovolemia, hypotension, anemia, exercise, fever, hypoxia, pain, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, pulmonary embolism, AWMI, response to drugs that stimulate heart, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine  
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Causes of Sinus Bradycardia   Athletes with well conditioned hearts, digitalis, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, sleep, elevated ICP, inferior wall MI, vagal stimulation caused by vomitting or severe pain, hypothyroidism, hypothermia  
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Sinus Bradycardia Interventions   Identify underlying cause; If symptomatic - Atropine, pacemaker, dopamine  
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Causes of PACs   Coronary and valvular heart disease, dig toxicity, hyperthyroidism, elevated catecholamine levels, acute respiratory failure, COPD, fatigue, anxiety, electrolyte imbalances, ischemia, MI, early CHF, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine  
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PAC interventions   If symptomatic, focus on eliminating the cause or may treat with antiarrhythmics  
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Causes of Atrial Fibrillation   Valvular disorders, hypertension, CAD, MI, cardiomyopathy, COPD, CHF, rheumatic heart disease, hyperthyroid, dig intoxication  
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Interventions for Atrial Fibrillation   Control (slow) rate and improve cardiac output. If symptomatic - syncronized cardioversion. Diltiazem, Verampamil, Digoxin, beta blockers to slow conduction through AV node. Other anti-arrhythmic drugs once ventricular response controlled.  
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Danger of Atrial Fibrillation   Stroke - clot forms and breaks loose, anticoagulant therapy unless contraindicated (heparin/coumadin)  
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Interventions for Ventricular Tachycardia in consious stable patient   order 12 lead EKG to determine type of tachycardia  
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Interventions for Ventricular Tachycardia in unstable patient   Call for help, Start CRP, Immediate synchronized cardioversion followed by drug therapy  
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Interventions for Ventricular Tachycardia in pulseless patient   ACLS - shock, CPR for 2 minutes, shock & vasopressors, shock and antiarrhythmic (amiodarone, lidocane, magnesium)  
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Ventricular Tachycardia   Lethal dysrhythmia - Assess pt, call for help, start CPR  
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Ventricular Fibrillation (V Fib) Interventions   Assess Pt, call for help, start CPR, Code Cart/ACLS  
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Causes of V Fib   MI, Myocardial ischemia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, cocain toxicity, hypoxia, hypothermia, acid-base imbalance, electric shock  
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Asystole Interventions   Assess, call code, CPR, intubate, O2, Vasopressin, epinephrine, atropine, pacemaker (confirm in more than 1 lead)  
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Causes of asystole   Severe metabolic deficit, acute respiratory failure, MI, severe electrolyte disturbances, massive pulmonary embolism, electric shock, cocaine OD  
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Asystole   Flatline - ventricular standstill - no electrical activity, no contraction, no cardiac output  
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Ventricular Fibrillation   Lethal Rhythm - rapid disorganized depolarizations of the ventricles characterized by a lack of organized electrical impulse, conduction and ventricular contraction.  
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