Means the twisting of the points, a polymorphicRefers to waves that change in shape – usually refers to QRS complexes that have more than one impulse site. 1. Six Second ECG Guidebook (2012), T Barill, p. 202 ventricular tachycardiaIs a cardiac rhythm characterized by rapidly occurring wide QRS complexes with absent or infrequent P waves evident; the absence of atrial kick, the lack of filling time, and the tendency for ventricular tachycardia to change to ventricular fibrillation makes... characterized by periods of increasing QRSThe electrical representation of ventricular depolarization; the atrial repolarization is also a part of the QRS. ECG interpretation relies heavily on the QRS complex. The QRS complex represents the depolarization of the ventricles. The repolarization of the atria is also... amplitudeThe height or depth of waves and complexes of an ECG in millimetres; represents millivolts where 10 mm is 1 millivolt with a properly calibrated monitor. 1. Six Second ECG Guidebook (2012), T Barill, p. 190 followed with a period of reduced QRS amplitude – then the patternPattern refers to the repeating components of an ECG rhythm in a predicative order. An ECG rhythm that is initiated by one of several intrinsic pacemaker sites of a heart will often generate a regular, even rhythm pattern. This can... repeats again; often associated with effects of cardiac drugs or with low magnesium blood levels; often preceded by long QTA long QT interval, wider than 1/2 the R-R interval, is a significant risk factor for developing hemodynamically unstable dysrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and torsades de pointes. A prolonged QT interval is also associated with a higher incidence of... intervals.
Associated with long QT syndrome and any drugs that prolong the QT intervalThe QT interval represents a complete ventricular cycle of depolarization and repolarization. The QT interval is measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave. A QT interval should be less than 1/2 the... (quinidine, procainamide), Torsades de Pointes (TdP) is a polymorphic – many shapes – ventricular tachycardiaA cardiac rhythm with a rate above 100/minute; for example, if the impulse originates from the atria with a rate of 160/minute, the rhythm is called an atrial tachycardia. A cardiac rhythm is usually named first by the location of.... It can be differentiated from ventricular fibrillationA chaotic unorganized cardiac rhythm with several firing regions within the ventricles; the result is uncoordinated ventricular activity and NO cardiac output – a lethal dysrhythmia; fine ventricular fibrillation defines an amplitude less than 3 mm; coarse ventricular fibrillation has... in that TdP has an undulating pattern of increasing and decreasing amplitude. Ventricular fibrillation is chaotic, devoid of any pattern.
Torsades de Pointes is often associated with hemodynamic compromise. Notice in the prolonged QT intervalA period measured on rhythm strip paper that measures a wave and a segment; the distance measured is equal to time taken as an ECG is voltage over time; a PR interval for example is measured from the beginning of... present prior to the episode of TdP. Treatment includes discontinuing medications that may prolong the QT interval, administering magnesium, and overdrive pacingPaces the heart faster than its non-paced rate to entrain the heart – once the heart is dominated by the firing of the artificial pacemaker, the heart rate is brought down into a range <100/minute; eventually, the artificial pacemaker stops....
1. Six Second ECG GuidebookA Practice Guide to Basic and 12 Lead ECG Interpretation, written by Tracy Barill, 2012 Introduction The ability to correctly interpret an electrocardiogram (ECG), be it a simple six second strip or a 12 lead ECG, is a vital skill... (2012), T Barill, p. 122, 207