COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ wide qrs is. Answer: greater than 0.12
◉ Sinus Tachycardia. Answer: 100-160 bpm
SA node
reduced time for ventricle filling
assess for SOB or chest pain
◉ a prolonged QT interval. Answer: more prone to arrhythmia
◉ NSR reflects the heart's. Answer: normal electrical activity, providing
synchrony between the atria and the ventricles.
◉ Sinus tachycardia occurs when the. Answer: sinus node discharges
impulses too fast (100 - 160 beats/minute). All other parameters are
normal
,◉ Facts about sinus tachycardia. Answer: Normal response of heart in
certain circumstances (for example exercise)
•Begins and ends gradually in contrast to other tachycardias
•Usually benign arrhythmia that goes away when underlying cause is
treated
•Common causes: Anxiety, hypoxia, hypovolemia, hypotension, heart
failure, pain, drugs that increase sympathetic tone (epinephrine,
norepinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, isoproterenol, nitroprusside),
and drugs that decrease parasympathetic tone (atropine)
•Persistent sinus tachycardia may result in decreased cardiac output due
to a decrease in stroke volume. Cardiac output = stroke volume ×heart
rate. A decrease in either stroke volume or heart rate may result in a
decrease in cardiac output.
◉ Sinus bradycardia occurs when. Answer: the sinus node discharges
impulses too slow (40 - 60 beats/minute). All other parameters are
normal.
◉ Sinus bradycardia features. Answer: regular rhythm, rate 40-60 bpm
Normal p waves
PR interval normal 0.12 to 0.2
,QRS normal less than 0.1
◉ Facts about sinus bradycardia. Answer: Normal response of heart in
certain circumstances (for example relaxation, sleep)
•Most common arrhythmia associated with acute inferior wall
myocardial infarction
•Other causes: Reperfusion rhythm following myocardial reperfusion
procedures (thrombolytic administration, angioplasty); vagal
stimulation; sleep apnea; hyperkalemia; increased intracranial pressure;
disease of SA node; and administration of drugs, such as digitalis,
calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers
•Persistent bradycardia may result in decreased cardiac output due to a
decrease in heart rate. Cardiac output = stroke volume ×heart rate. A
decrease in either stroke volume or heart rate may result in a decrease in
cardiac output.
◉ Treatment of sinus bradycardia. Answer: No treatment is necessary if
patient is asymptomatic.
•Symptomatic bradycardia is initially treated with oxygen and atropine
IV push. If unsuccessful, external pacing or transvenous pacing may be
used.
, •Chronic sinus bradycardia may require a permanent pacemaker.
◉ Sinus arrhythmia occurs when. Answer: the sinus node discharges
impulses irregularly. The heart rate may be normal range or slow. All
other parameters are normal.
◉ Sinus arrhythmia ECG features. Answer: irregular rhythm
rate normal or slow
P waves normal
PR interval normal 0.12 to 0.20
QRS normal less than 0.1
◉ Facts about sinus arrhythmia. Answer: Normal phenomenon usually
associated with phases of respiration (heart rate increases with
inspiration and decreases with expiration)
•Most commonly observed in infants, children, and young adults,
although it may occur in any age-group
•Frequently occurs along with sinus bradycardia, in which case it is
usually called sinus arrhythmia with a bradycardic rate