BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing
Atrial fibrillation - questions and answers-Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
Treatment: digoxin, CCB, BB, cardioversion

Atrial flutter - questions and answers-Almost always occurs in diseased hearts; precipitates CHF
Treatments: cardioversion, vagal maneuvers, digoxin, CCB, BB

Bundle branch blocks (BBB) - questions and answers-QRS >0.12; conduction delay within
Bundle of His

Causes of sinus bradycardia - questions and answers-Vagal stimulation, sleep apnea,
hyperkalemia, increased ICP, hypothermia, SA node damage, drugs

Causes of sinus tachycardia - questions and answers-Exertion, pain, infection, hypoxia, HF, PE,
MI, drugs

First degree AV block - questions and answers-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

Idioventricular Rhythm - questions and answers-"Dying heart"; wide QRS, 20-40bpm, absent P
wave
Treatment: atropine, pacing

Junctional escape beats - questions and answers-P waves are absent/inverted
Causes: sinus bradycardia (healthy), high degree/complete AV block
Treatment: atropine, pacemaker

Non-conducting PACs - questions and answers-P wave without a QRS; different morphology

PR interval - questions and answers-atrial depolarization (0.12-0.20)

Premature atrial contractions - questions and answers-P wave morphology altered; irregular
rhythm
Causes: can occur in a normal heart, CHF, ischemia, COPD

Premature Ventricular Contraction - questions and answers-wide and distorted QRS complex;
irregular rhythm; can occur as couplets, bigeminy, trigeminy, multi-focal