TEST BANK For ECGs Made Easy, 7th Edition by
Barbara J Aehlert, All Chapters 1 - 10
Couplet - ANSWER Two premature ventricular contractions occurring together
Run of V-tach - ANSWER Three or more premature ventricular beats in a row
Bigeminy - ANSWER Every other beat is a premature ventricular contraction
Trigeminy - ANSWER Every 3rd beat is a premature ventricular contraction
Normal QRS interval - ANSWER <0.12
Normal P-R interval - ANSWER 0.12-0.20
Normal Q-T interval - ANSWER < 0.40
Small box on EKG = - ANSWER 0.04 seconds
Large box on EKG= - ANSWER 0.2 seconds
Ventricular Rhythms - ANSWER Originate in the Purkinje fibers. Intrinsic rate is 20-
40. No P wave. QRS is wide and bizarre.
Idioventricular Rhythm - ANSWER Rate 20-40. No P wave, wide QRS.
Treatments: pacing, check code status, consider hospice.
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm (AIVR) - ANSWER Rate >40-100. QRS Wide
and Bizarre.
Treatments: Evaluate patient, pacing, check code status, consider hospice.
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) with pulse - ANSWER Rate >100. Wide and bizarre
QRS complexes. No P waves.
Treatments: Vagal maneuvers, Adenosine only if stable, synchronized cardioversion.
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) without pulse - ANSWER Rate >100, pulseless
electrical activity in the heart.
Treatment: Start CPR (high quality compressions), Defibrillation, Epi, Amiodarone,
Polymorphic V-Tach - ANSWER Can have a pulse with this rhythm. Irregular looking
QRS complexes.
Torsades de pointes - ANSWER "Turning on a point." A variation of polymorphic V-
Tach. Can be caused by medications that lengthen Q-T (i.e. Zofran, SSRIs, Haldol).
Treatment: Defibrillation, Magnesium, correct electrolyte imbalances, d/c meds that
prolong QTc
, Ventricular Fibrillation - ANSWER Disorganized, ineffective twitching of the
ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest.
Treatment: CPR, Defibrillation, Amiodarone, Epinephrine.
PVC Treatment - ANSWER Evaluate patient, check electrolytes and correct
imbalances, determine possible causes (i.e. cardiac procedure today, central line,
MI, Hypoxia, stress/anxiety).
Treatments: aimed at treating cause, o2, beta blockers, magnesium.
Ventricular Escape Beat - ANSWER A late beat that originates in the ventricles.
Wide QRS and no P wave.
Systole - ANSWER Work Phase of the heart. Contraction of the atria then the
ventricles. Cells are depolarizing in this phase.
Diastole - ANSWER Rest or relaxation of the heart. Myocardium is perfused during
this phase. Cells are repolarizing.
Right Coronary Artery Perfuses - ANSWER R atrium, R ventricle, inferior L ventricle,
posterior L ventricle, SA node (60%), AV node (90%), and Bundle of His
Left Anterior Descending Artery Perfuses - ANSWER Anterior left ventricle,
Intraventricular septum, posterior left ventricle, R and L bundle branch
Circumflex Artery Perfuses - ANSWER Left atrium, Lateral left ventricle, SA node
(40%), AV node (10%).
Automaticity - ANSWER The ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical
impulses on its own.
Conductivity - ANSWER The cardiac cells are able to receive an impulse and pass it
on.
Contractililty - ANSWER Cardiac cells are able to receive and impulse and contract.
Excitibility - ANSWER Cardiac cells are able to respond to stimulus.
Electrolytes play a big role in the property.
Systole. The cells are depolarizing - ANSWER Work Phase of the Heart
Essential Electrolytes for Heart Function - ANSWER Sodium, potassium, calcium
(Essential for membrane excitability). Magnesium is used for the sodium, potassium
and calcium pumps and relaxes the heart muscle.
Peaked T-waves - ANSWER hyperkalemia
P-Wave - ANSWER atrial depolarization (contraction)
QRS complex - ANSWER ventricular depolarization, contraction of ventricles
Barbara J Aehlert, All Chapters 1 - 10
Couplet - ANSWER Two premature ventricular contractions occurring together
Run of V-tach - ANSWER Three or more premature ventricular beats in a row
Bigeminy - ANSWER Every other beat is a premature ventricular contraction
Trigeminy - ANSWER Every 3rd beat is a premature ventricular contraction
Normal QRS interval - ANSWER <0.12
Normal P-R interval - ANSWER 0.12-0.20
Normal Q-T interval - ANSWER < 0.40
Small box on EKG = - ANSWER 0.04 seconds
Large box on EKG= - ANSWER 0.2 seconds
Ventricular Rhythms - ANSWER Originate in the Purkinje fibers. Intrinsic rate is 20-
40. No P wave. QRS is wide and bizarre.
Idioventricular Rhythm - ANSWER Rate 20-40. No P wave, wide QRS.
Treatments: pacing, check code status, consider hospice.
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm (AIVR) - ANSWER Rate >40-100. QRS Wide
and Bizarre.
Treatments: Evaluate patient, pacing, check code status, consider hospice.
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) with pulse - ANSWER Rate >100. Wide and bizarre
QRS complexes. No P waves.
Treatments: Vagal maneuvers, Adenosine only if stable, synchronized cardioversion.
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) without pulse - ANSWER Rate >100, pulseless
electrical activity in the heart.
Treatment: Start CPR (high quality compressions), Defibrillation, Epi, Amiodarone,
Polymorphic V-Tach - ANSWER Can have a pulse with this rhythm. Irregular looking
QRS complexes.
Torsades de pointes - ANSWER "Turning on a point." A variation of polymorphic V-
Tach. Can be caused by medications that lengthen Q-T (i.e. Zofran, SSRIs, Haldol).
Treatment: Defibrillation, Magnesium, correct electrolyte imbalances, d/c meds that
prolong QTc
, Ventricular Fibrillation - ANSWER Disorganized, ineffective twitching of the
ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest.
Treatment: CPR, Defibrillation, Amiodarone, Epinephrine.
PVC Treatment - ANSWER Evaluate patient, check electrolytes and correct
imbalances, determine possible causes (i.e. cardiac procedure today, central line,
MI, Hypoxia, stress/anxiety).
Treatments: aimed at treating cause, o2, beta blockers, magnesium.
Ventricular Escape Beat - ANSWER A late beat that originates in the ventricles.
Wide QRS and no P wave.
Systole - ANSWER Work Phase of the heart. Contraction of the atria then the
ventricles. Cells are depolarizing in this phase.
Diastole - ANSWER Rest or relaxation of the heart. Myocardium is perfused during
this phase. Cells are repolarizing.
Right Coronary Artery Perfuses - ANSWER R atrium, R ventricle, inferior L ventricle,
posterior L ventricle, SA node (60%), AV node (90%), and Bundle of His
Left Anterior Descending Artery Perfuses - ANSWER Anterior left ventricle,
Intraventricular septum, posterior left ventricle, R and L bundle branch
Circumflex Artery Perfuses - ANSWER Left atrium, Lateral left ventricle, SA node
(40%), AV node (10%).
Automaticity - ANSWER The ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical
impulses on its own.
Conductivity - ANSWER The cardiac cells are able to receive an impulse and pass it
on.
Contractililty - ANSWER Cardiac cells are able to receive and impulse and contract.
Excitibility - ANSWER Cardiac cells are able to respond to stimulus.
Electrolytes play a big role in the property.
Systole. The cells are depolarizing - ANSWER Work Phase of the Heart
Essential Electrolytes for Heart Function - ANSWER Sodium, potassium, calcium
(Essential for membrane excitability). Magnesium is used for the sodium, potassium
and calcium pumps and relaxes the heart muscle.
Peaked T-waves - ANSWER hyperkalemia
P-Wave - ANSWER atrial depolarization (contraction)
QRS complex - ANSWER ventricular depolarization, contraction of ventricles
