BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing Questions
And Answers
Sinus arrhythmia A sinus rhythm in which the rate varies with respiration causing an
irregular rhythm
Sinus arrest/pause Basic rhythm regular; length of pause is not a multiple
Causes: increased vagal tone, myocarditis, MI, digitalis toxicity
Premature atrial contractions P wave morphology altered; irregular rhythm
Causes: can occur in a normal heart, CHF, ischemia, COPD
Non-conducting PACs P wave without a QRS; different morphology
Supraventricular Tachycardia 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 Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
, BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing Questions
And Answers
Treatment: digoxin, CCB, BB, cardioversion
Atrial flutter Almost always occurs in diseased hearts; precipitates CHF
Treatments: cardioversion, vagal maneuvers, digoxin, CCB, BB
Junctional escape beats P waves are absent/inverted
Causes: sinus bradycardia (healthy), high degree/complete AV block
Treatment: atropine, pacemaker
First degree AV block Impulse originates in SA node but has prolonged conduction in AV
junction
PR interval >0.20 seconds; regular rhythm
Causes: inferior MI, hyperkalemia, digitalis toxicity, increased vagal tone, acute rheumatic fever,
myocarditis
Second degree AV block type 1 (Wenkebach) Occurs in AV node above Bundle of His
Causes: often transient, acute MI, digitalis toxicity
And Answers
Sinus arrhythmia A sinus rhythm in which the rate varies with respiration causing an
irregular rhythm
Sinus arrest/pause Basic rhythm regular; length of pause is not a multiple
Causes: increased vagal tone, myocarditis, MI, digitalis toxicity
Premature atrial contractions P wave morphology altered; irregular rhythm
Causes: can occur in a normal heart, CHF, ischemia, COPD
Non-conducting PACs P wave without a QRS; different morphology
Supraventricular Tachycardia 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 Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
, BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing Questions
And Answers
Treatment: digoxin, CCB, BB, cardioversion
Atrial flutter Almost always occurs in diseased hearts; precipitates CHF
Treatments: cardioversion, vagal maneuvers, digoxin, CCB, BB
Junctional escape beats P waves are absent/inverted
Causes: sinus bradycardia (healthy), high degree/complete AV block
Treatment: atropine, pacemaker
First degree AV block Impulse originates in SA node but has prolonged conduction in AV
junction
PR interval >0.20 seconds; regular rhythm
Causes: inferior MI, hyperkalemia, digitalis toxicity, increased vagal tone, acute rheumatic fever,
myocarditis
Second degree AV block type 1 (Wenkebach) Occurs in AV node above Bundle of His
Causes: often transient, acute MI, digitalis toxicity
