3. Supraventricular tachycardia – ( abbr. SVT ). An arrhythmia in which the impulse stimulating the heart is not generated by the sinus (SA) node, but instead comes from a collection of tissue around and involving the atrioventricular (AV) node. The electrical impulses from this abnormal site are generated at a rapid rate, which may reach 280 beats per minute.
5. cardiac arrhythmia, momentarily loss of pulse, and sometimes producing accompanying palpitations (abnormal heartbeat that is often associated with a sensation of fluttering or thumping). Premature ventricular contraction – ( Abbr. PVC ) An early impulse firing of the ventricles causing the ventricles to beat early, resulting in momentary
6. Premature atrial contraction ( PAC ): The atria fires an early impulse which causes the heart to beat earlier causing irregularity in the heart rhythm.
8. Ventricular flutter – A rare, dangerous condition that does not last long since it usually deteriorates quickly into ventricular fibrillation.
9. Fibrillation - Fine, rapid, uncoordinated twitching of individual muscle fibers with little or no movement of the muscle as a whole. This condition can occur in either the atria or the ventricles .
10. Atrial fibrillation - Fibrillation in which the normal rhythmical contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid, irregular twitchings of the atrial walls as a result of many sites within the atria firing electrical impulses in an irregular fashion. This causes the ventricles to respond irregularly resulting in an irregular heart beat. Also called a-fib .
11. Ventricular fibrillation - An often fatal form of arrhythmia characterized by rapid, irregular, uncoordinated spasms or twitchings of the ventricles instead of normal contractions, resulting in a loss of pulse and blood pressure. Also called v-fib . Pulse – The rhythmical dilation of arteries produced when blood is pumped outward by regular contractions of the heart, especially as palpated at the wrist or in the neck.
12. Which picture is a-fib and which is v-fib ? 1.) ? 2.) ? v-fib a-fib
14. An example of the inevitable use of this equipment, which often ends on a happy note.
15. Automated external defibrillator - ( AED ) is a device that can detect and correct ventricular fibrillation. V-fib is, basically, cardiac arrest. If cardiac arrest occurs, an AED, if available, should be used immediately. If the AED detects v-fib, it provides an electrical shock (defibrillation) that can restore normal heart rhythm. If a person remains in cardiac arrest after an AED is used, help should be called and CPR should be performed.