ACLS Rhythm Strips study guide with complete solutions.

Atrial Fibrillation - Rhythm: irregularly irregular** - Rate: slow or fast - No identifiable P's** - QRS usually narrow but may be wide with conduction defect Atrial Flutter -Characterized by "saw tooth" atrial activity -Conduction ratio 2:1, 4:1, 8:1. - If 150 bpm, may seriously compromise cardiac output. - Rate: atrial rate 250-400 (generally 300bpm) 00:07 01:13 Asystole - Ventricular standstill, no electrical activity, no cardiac output - Occurs in cardiac arrest, may follow VF or PEA - Remember! No defibrillation with Asystole - Rate: absent due to absence of ventricular activity. Bundle Branch Block - Rhythm can be regular or irregular - Rate: Variable - This block occurs in the right or left bundle branches or in both. The ventricle that is supplied by the blocked bundle is depolarized abnormally. - QRS: wide, 0.12 seconds Couplet PVC A pattern of two PVC's following a normal complex Idioventricular rhythm - Escape rhythm (safety mechanism) to prevent ventricular standstill - HIS/purkinje system takes over as the heart's pacemaker - Treatment: pacing - Rhythm: regular - Rate: 20-40 bpm - P wave: absent - QRS: .12 seconds (wide and bizarre) Junctional rhythm - An ESCAPE RHYTHM serves as a protective mechanism when higher centers in the conduction system fail to fire. - Rhythm: Regular - Rate: 40 - 60 bpm - P wave: --Before QRS, INVERTED and P-R interval is .12 --After QRS and usually inverted --Absent -QRS: .12 seconds, unless prolonged by aberrant conduction Normal Sinus Rhythm -Rhythm: Regular -Rate: 60-100 bpm -Every P has a QRS and every QRS has a P -PRI: .12-.20 sec -QRS: .08 -.12 sec Sinus arrhythmia - Rhythm: Regularly Irregular - Rate: 45-100 bpm - Sinus P Wave Conduction is Normal - QRS is Normal Sinus Bradycardia - Rate: 60 bpm - Every P has a QRS and every QRS has a P - PRI: .12 - .20 seconds - QRS: .08 - .12 seconds, narrow Sinus Tachycardia - Rhythm: regular/fast - Rate: 100 bpm - Every P has a QRS and every QRS has a P - PRI: .12 - .20 seconds - QRS: normal