Ventricular Rhythms Flashcard
Rationale
C. Rationale: The correct answer is quadrigeminy. PVCs often occur in repeating patterns: bigeminy is a PVC occurring every other beat; in trigeminy, every third beat is a PVC, and quadrigeminy is when every fourth beat is a PVC. Two consecutive PVCs are known as a couplet, while three consecutive PVCs is called a triplet.
Question
A rhythm strip pattern that shows a premature ventricular complex after every three sinus beats is called:
a. Trigeminy
b. Bigeminy
c. Quadrigeminy
d. Couplet
Answer
c. Quadrigeminy
Rationale
B. Rationale: Idioventricular rhythms are escape rhythms caused by the failure of higher pace making sites, resulting in a ventricular focus taking over the pace making function.
Question
An idioventricular rhythm is:
a. A single ectopic beat arising from an irritable focus in the ventricle
b. An escape rhythm that takes over the pace making responsibility when higher centers fail
c. A straight-line tracing in the rhythm strip indicating cessation of the electrical activity of the heart
d. A lethal terminal arrhythmia, especially when the heart has stopped beating reliably
Answer
b. An escape rhythm that takes over the pace making responsibility when higher centers fail
