VF may be responsive to electrical defibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation (Vfib or VF) is characterized by a chaotic wave pattern and no pulse. Third-degree AV block is a very serious condition because escape rhythms may (1) not occur, (2) occur transiently, or (3) occur but generate insufficient cardiac output. VT may be responsive to electrical defibrillation. Importantly, for the ventricles to have any electrical (and thus pumping) activity at all, an escape rhythm must arise in an ectopic focus (located distal to the block). May quickly degenerate to Ventricular fibrillation and death. Ventricular tachycardia (Vtach or VT) is characterized by bizarre widened QRS complexes, no P waves and usually a rate over 100 per minute. It should not be confused, however, with specific pulseless scenarios listed previously. Not responsive to electrical defibrillation.Ĭan be virtually any organized ECG rhythm in a patient who is unresponsive and lacks a palpable pulse. This rhythm is characterized by no waves before the QRS complex and a very irregular heart rate.Ītrial 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.Īsystole is also commonly known as a “flat line” where there is no electrical activity seen on the cardiac monitor. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an extremely fast atrial rhythm with narrow QRS complexes when the impulse originates above the bundle branches (above the ventricles).Ītrial Fibrillation (Afib or AF) is a very common arrhythmia. In this case, the P to P intervals are regular but have no relationship to the QRS complexes on the ECG. The Mobitz Type II block must be evaluated since it is one that can rapidly progress to a complete heart block.Ī 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. A Mobitz Type I heart block is characterized by progressive lengthening of the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped.Ī Mobitz Type II heart block is characterized by an intermittent dropped QRS that is not in a Mobitz Type I pattern. Sinus rhythm with 1 st 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.Ī 2 nd degree AV block is usually classified as Mobitz Type I (Wenckebach) or Mobitz Type II. Sinus tachycardia is a sinus rhythm with a rate greater than 100 per minute in an adult. Sinus bradycardia is a sinus rhythm with a rate less than 60 per minute in an adult. The T wave corresponds to a repolarization of the ventricles.Ī sinus rhythm is regular with normal P, Q-R-S, T deflections and intervals. It generally corresponds to the contraction of the ventricles. The QRS complex corresponds to the depolarization of the left and right ventricles. This is synonymous with atrial depolarization and usually corresponds with atrial contraction. The P wave corresponds to electrical impulse traveling through the atria. Take a moment to review the most common cardiac rhythms encountered in ACLS and PALS. Knowing how to read and interpret ECGs is a critically important skill in ACLS and PALS.
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