VENTRICULAR RHYTHMS:
Start at the Purkinje Fibers and has a rate of 20-40 BPM
What are the types of premature ventricular contractions (PVCS)?
- Idioventricular rhythm
- Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
- Ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach)
- Agonal rhythm
- Ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib)
- Asystole
What cause premature ventricular contractions?
They are caused by ectopic beats that originate from the rhythm of the ventricle
- QRS will have bizzare T-wave in opposite direction
UNIFOCAL PVCS:
Early beat that suggests area of irritation is present in the ventricle
MULTIFOCAL PVCS:
Different shapes/forms suggesting that irritation is present in ventricle
INTERPOLATED PVCS:
Premature ventricular contraction occurring during R-R interval without interrupting normal cycle
OCCASIONAL PVCS:
When more than 1 to 4 premature ventricular contractions occur per min
FREQUENT PVCS:
When 5 or more premature ventricular contractions occur per min
What are the types of PREMATURE COMPLEXES?
VENTRICULAR BIGEMINY = Normal sinuses impulse is followed by a vent
VENTRICULAR TRIGEMINY = When a ventricular premature beat occurs after every beat
IDIOVENTRICULAR RHYTHM:
A heart rhythm in which your lower heart chambers beat more slowly than normal
- Ventricular rate is 20-40 BPM because of Purkinje Fibers
- P-wave is absent
- Can cause unconsciousness
VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA (V-Tach):
When 3 or more PVCS occur in a row and the ventricles are continuously contracting and relaxing
*Followe CODE BLUE/ CPR
AGORIAL RHYTHM:
When the SA/AV Nodes and Purkinje fibers have failed
- Loss of cardiac output
- Rate less than 20 BPM
VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION:
Chaotic electrical activity within the ventricles that cause no cardiac output
- Advanced cardiac life support will be needed
- Ventricular rate is greater than 300 BPM
ASYSTOLE:
It’s a flat line, there is no electrical heart activity present
- NO RHYTHM WAVEFORM
FOLLOW RESUSCITATION POLICY
ELECTRONIC PACEMAKER:
Has a …
PACING SPIKE = A thin line on ECG tracing indicating electrical stimulation from an outside source
PACEMAKER COMPLICATIONS:
- Weak battery
- Program complication = Set too low to see normal contractions
- Loss of capture = Fails to initiate an electrical shock
- Oversensing = Sense outside sources and not depolarize
- Malsensing = Fails to sense
- Malfunctioning = Fails to keep appropriate rhythm
