Cardiac Rhythms and Dysrhythmias Part 2 (1)

Cardiac Rhythms and Dysrhythmias Part 2
Occurs when atrial impulses are completely blocked at the AV node and fail to reach the
ventricle; atria and ventricles are controlled by different and independent pacemakers -
ANS-Third Degree Heart Block

inferior or anteroseptal MI - ANS-Third Degree Heart Block Causes

dizziness, syncope, fatigue, exercise intolerance, HF - ANS-Third Degree Heart Block Clinical
Manifestations

atrial 60-100 bpm; ventricular 15-60 bpm - ANS-Third Degree Heart Block ECG Rate

no relation between P waves and QRS complexes; independent rhythms - ANS-Third Degree
Heart Block ECG P:QRS

immediate pacemaker therapy - ANS-Third Degree Heart Block Nursing Management

Extremely rapid, chaotic ventricular depolarization; heart does not pump - ANS-Ventricular
Fibrillation

death will follow within 4 minutes if the rhythm is not recognized and terminated and an effective
perfusing rhythm reestablished - ANS-Ventricular Fibrillation Death

severe myocardial ischemia or infarction; digitalis toxicity; hypothermia; hypo and hyperkalemia;
metabolic acidosis - ANS-Ventricular Fibrillation Causes

absence of a palpable or audible pulse, LOC, stop breathing - ANS-Ventricular Fibrillation
Clinical Manifestations

too rapid to count - ANS-Ventricular Fibrillation ECG Rate

pt has a pulse; treat with cardioversion - ANS-Stable Ventricular Tachycardia

pt does not have a pulse; treat with defibrillation - ANS-Unstable Ventricular Tachycardia

grossly irregular - ANS-Ventricular Fibrillation ECG Rhythm

immediate defibrillation - ANS-Ventricular Fibrillation Nursing Management

Rapid ventricular rhythm defined as three or more consecutive PVCs - ANS-Ventricular
Tachycardia