fibrillation of the atria and ecg changes
TRANSCRIPT
What is Fibrillation?
A rapid and uncoordinated muscular contraction
Results in decrease cardiac output in the heart
Severity depends on the chamber affected
Cause by aberrant electrical impulses
Leads to predictable abnormalities on the EKG
Cardiac Structure
The heart contains four chambers
Two smaller chambers on the top known as atria
Two larger chambers on the bottom called ventricles
Fibrillation can occur in either the atria or ventricles
Ventricular fibrillation is more severe
Atrial Function and Fibrillation
Primary purpose is to force blood into the ventricles
Right chamber contains a sinoatrial node that is responsible for regulating electrical stimuli
Fibrillatory impulses originate from tissue near the pulmonary veins
Allowed to wonder aimlessly through the atria
Sustained by re-entry circuits
Atrial Function and Fibrillation
Irregular and uncoordinated contractions result in less blood being pushed into the ventricles
Decreases cardiac output
Less oxygen and nutrients delivered to the body
Can cause signs and symptoms
Electrical stimuli usually do not enter the ventricles
EKG Changes
Absent P waves
Fibrillatory waves
Loss of the isoelectric baseline
QRS abnormalities
Ventricular rate variations
Irregular rhythms
Medical Evaluation
To be performed by nurses and physicians
May order additional studies such as echocardiogram and Holter monitoring
Ensure test quality
Identify obvious abnormalities
Diagnosis and treatment can be complex
Resources
Atrial Fibrillation ECG
www.ekgtechniciansalary.org