Exam 4: Errors of Automaticity

A direct current (DC) countershock, or cardioversion, should be used for sinus tachycardia in the field.

A ____ is characterized by a sudden loss of consciousness, without warning, while seated or standing, which may be followed by a convulsion.

Unifocal PVCs sometimes appear two in a row and are called ____________________.

Myocardial ischemia can cause decreases in cellular automaticity.

____ are the result of enhanced automaticity of the bundle of His-Purkinje fibers, which occur under certain metabolic conditions.

During atrial fibrillation, the atria are never depolarized as a unit, since multiple impulses depolarize small areas.

After completing an initial survey and treating any life threats, the Paramedic should try to obtain a succinct history of the present illness, using a(n) ____ mnemonic.

Any time there is a pulse deficit of greater than ____ bpm, it is considered significant and should be treated.

The ectopic foci fires at rates typically around 120 bpm with a range of 100 to 220 bpm.

A(n) ____ is thought to be akin to a multifocal atrial tachycardia, without the tachycardia.

____ is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that enhances sinus automaticity.

While AIVR is a ventricular rhythm, the usual treatments for ventricular dysrhythmia are not used.

Dysrhythmia, whether tachydysrhythmia or bradydysrhythmia, due to errors of automaticity represent a separate class of dysrhythmia and require a different approach to treatment both in the field and in the hospital.

A ____ is identifiable not only by the loss of rhythm in a sinus rhythm, as manifest by a single irregular R to R ratio, but sometimes by the escape beat that tends to intercede between the sinus rhythm.

Under normal circumstances, a wide complex tachycardia would not be cause for concern.

When the atria are in ____________________, blood flow in portions of the atria-particularly near the valves-slows.

A ____ is the result of an early depolarization of an irritable ectopic foci in the atria.

A premature junctional complex (PJC) arises from either just above, within, or just below the junctional tissue.

Stimulation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system will cause an increase in the slope of phase four, effectively increasing the spontaneous conduction of the myocardium, which is called ____.

The primary cause of decreased automaticity is increased ____ stimulation.