BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing Questions
And Answers
Causes of sinus bradycardia Vagal stimulation, sleep apnea, hyperkalemia, increased ICP,
hypothermia, SA node damage, drugs
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
, BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing Questions
And Answers
Treatment: ADENOSINE
Atrial fibrillation Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
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
And Answers
Causes of sinus bradycardia Vagal stimulation, sleep apnea, hyperkalemia, increased ICP,
hypothermia, SA node damage, drugs
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
, BAMC Basic Telemetry Testing Questions
And Answers
Treatment: ADENOSINE
Atrial fibrillation Causes: COPD, CHF, HF
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
