Exam 5: Regularity

Which of the following methods used to determine the regularity of a rhythm, is among the most accurate and requires you to use a specific device?

A totally irregular rhythm is one in which there is no consistency to the irregularity.

Frequent early beats are likely to progress to very fast atrial, junctional or ventricular rates.

Early beats that occur every other (second) complex, every third complex or every fourth complex produce ________ irregularity.

When a rhythm speeds up and slows down in a rhythmic fashion it is referred to as _________ irregularity.

Normally the heart beats in a regular, rhythmic cycle, producing a P wave, QRS complex and T wave with each heart beat.

Your 71 year old patient has a heart rate of 50 BPM. Analysis of the ECG reveals an irregular rhythm with one and sometimes two upright P waves preceding each narrow QRS complex. This occurs in a cyclical basis. This type of irregularity is called ________ irregularity.

On some ECG tracings the irregularity occurs so infrequently that you might not see it at first.

Early beats:

Your 100 year old patient has a heart rate of 70 BPM but then it suddenly accelerates to 180 BPM for a short time and then it goes back to the original rate. Analysis of the ECG reveals a regular rhythm with one upright P wave preceding each narrow QRS complex (until it suddenly accelerates). The fast heart rate shows wide QRS complexes without a P wave preceding them. This type of irregularity is called ________ irregularity.