acute failure and ECG

• what are the first line options for hypertension? ABCD

  a - ACE inhibitors

  b - beta-blockers

  c - calcium channel blockers

  d - diuretics
• what are the second-line options for hypertension? PAC


  P - potassium-sparing diuretics

  A - alpha blockers

  C - centrally acting antiadrenergic drugs
• Ventricular tachycardia (Vtach or VT) is characterized by bizarre widened QRS complexes, no P waves and usually a rate over 100 per minute.  May quickly degenerate to Ventricular fibrillation and death.  VT may be responsive to electrical defibrillation.

  
• Ventricular fibrillation (Vfib or VF) is characterized by a chaotic wave pattern and no pulse.  VF may be responsive to electrical defibrillation.

  
• A 3rd degree heart block (sometimes called a complete heart block) is a rhythm in which there is no relationship between the P and QRS waves.  In this case, the P to P intervals are regular but have no relationship to the QRS complexes on the ECG.

  
• A 2nd degree AV block is usually classified as Mobitz Type I (Wenckebach) or Mobitz Type II.  A Mobitz Type I heart block is characterized by progressive lengthening of the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped.

  
• Sinus rhythm with 1st degree heart block is a sinus rhythm with a prolonged PR interval > 0.20 seconds due to a delay in transmission from the atria to the ventricles.

  
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an extremely fast atrial rhythm with narrow QRS complexes when the impulse originates above the bundle branches (above the ventricles).

  
• Sinus tachycardia is a sinus rhythm with a rate greater than 100 per minute in an adult. Note that the p waves are still present.

  
• A sinus rhythm is regular with normal P, Q-R-S, T deflections and intervals.  Rate = 60-100 at rest.

  
• Sinus bradycardia is a sinus rhythm with a rate less than 60 per minute in an adult.

  
• Atrial Fibrillation (Afib or AF) is a very common arrhythmia.  This rhythm is characterized by no waves before the QRS complex and a very irregular heart rate.

  
• Atrial flutter is a supraventricular arrhythmia that is characterized by a “saw-toothed” flutter appearance on the ECG that represents multiple P waves for each QRS complex.

  
• Asystole is also commonly known as a “flat line” where there is no electrical activity seen on the cardiac monitor.  Not responsive to electrical defibrillation.

  
• pulseless electrical activity of PEA Can be virtually any organized ECG rhythm in a patient who is unresponsive and lacks a palpable pulse. Thus, one cannot learn a PEA rhythm.

  
• name the parts of a heart rhythm components on ECG

  A) PR interval

  B) p wave

  C) QRS complex

  D) T wave

  E) ST segment