Page 59 - AACN Essentials of Critical-Care Nursing Pocket Handbook, Second Edition
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                   Eliminate underlying cause.  disopyramid, flecainide, propafenone, amiodarone, sotalol, ibutilide, dofetilide

                Treatment  Cardiovert if hemodynamically   Calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers are used to slow ventricular rate. Procainamide,   are used to convert to sinus. Radiofrequency ablation may be





                   •  •  unstable.  •  •  successful.










             Cardiac Rhythms, ECG Characteristics, and Treatment Guide (continued)

                ECG Characteristics Rate: Atrial rate is 400-600 beats/min or faster. Ventricular rate varies depending on the amount of block at the AV node. In new atrial fibrillation, the ventricular response is usually quite rapid, 160-200 beats/min; in treated


                           irregularity of the ventricular response.  PR interval: Not measurable; there are no P waves. QRS complex: Usually normal; aberration is common.  period, aberrant intraventricular conduction can occur.












                   •      •  •  •  •  •



                Rhythm
                   Atrial fibrillation
             3.12
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