BAMC BASIC TELEMETRY TESTING
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QRS complex - Answer-ventricular depolarization (0.08-0.12)
PR interval - Answer-atrial depolarization (0.12-0.20)
T wave - Answer-ventricular repolarization
ST segment - Answer-end of ventricular depolarization and beginning of ventricular
repolarization
Elevated = injury
Depressed = ischemia
U wave - Answer-Normal variant or hypokalemia
Causes of sinus tachycardia - Answer-Exertion, pain, infection, hypoxia, HF, PE, MI,
drugs
Causes of sinus bradycardia - Answer-Vagal stimulation, sleep apnea, hyperkalemia,
increased ICP, hypothermia, SA node damage, drugs
Sinus arrhythmia - Answer-A sinus rhythm in which the rate varies with respiration
causing an irregular rhythm
Sinus arrest/pause - Answer-Basic rhythm regular; length of pause is not a multiple
Causes: increased vagal tone, myocarditis, MI, digitalis toxicity
Premature atrial contractions - Answer-P wave morphology altered; irregular rhythm
Causes: can occur in a normal heart, CHF, ischemia, COPD
Non-conducting PACs - Answer-P wave without a QRS; different morphology
Supraventricular Tachycardia - Answer-150-250 bpm, regular rhythm, originates from a
location above AV node, will start and stop w/o cause
Causes: mitral valve prolapse, cor pulmonale, digitalis toxicity, and rheumatic heart
disease
Treatment: ADENOSINE
Atrial fibrillation - Answer-Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
Treatment: digoxin, CCB, BB, cardioversion
Atrial flutter - Answer-Almost always occurs in diseased hearts; precipitates CHF
Treatments: cardioversion, vagal maneuvers, digoxin, CCB, BB
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QRS complex - Answer-ventricular depolarization (0.08-0.12)
PR interval - Answer-atrial depolarization (0.12-0.20)
T wave - Answer-ventricular repolarization
ST segment - Answer-end of ventricular depolarization and beginning of ventricular
repolarization
Elevated = injury
Depressed = ischemia
U wave - Answer-Normal variant or hypokalemia
Causes of sinus tachycardia - Answer-Exertion, pain, infection, hypoxia, HF, PE, MI,
drugs
Causes of sinus bradycardia - Answer-Vagal stimulation, sleep apnea, hyperkalemia,
increased ICP, hypothermia, SA node damage, drugs
Sinus arrhythmia - Answer-A sinus rhythm in which the rate varies with respiration
causing an irregular rhythm
Sinus arrest/pause - Answer-Basic rhythm regular; length of pause is not a multiple
Causes: increased vagal tone, myocarditis, MI, digitalis toxicity
Premature atrial contractions - Answer-P wave morphology altered; irregular rhythm
Causes: can occur in a normal heart, CHF, ischemia, COPD
Non-conducting PACs - Answer-P wave without a QRS; different morphology
Supraventricular Tachycardia - Answer-150-250 bpm, regular rhythm, originates from a
location above AV node, will start and stop w/o cause
Causes: mitral valve prolapse, cor pulmonale, digitalis toxicity, and rheumatic heart
disease
Treatment: ADENOSINE
Atrial fibrillation - Answer-Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
Treatment: digoxin, CCB, BB, cardioversion
Atrial flutter - Answer-Almost always occurs in diseased hearts; precipitates CHF
Treatments: cardioversion, vagal maneuvers, digoxin, CCB, BB
