Question

Cardiac Telemetry Strip Interpretation Clinical Significance:

Answer 1

The ECG is showing Arterial Fibrillation.

Arterial fibrillation is an irregular rapid heartbeat of the atrium. The upper chamber of the heart beats irregularly, it increases the chance of blood clot in the heart which later cause Coronary artery disese and stroke.

In the arterial fibrillation, the 'P' wave is unidentifiable in ECG because the atrium is fibrillating. R - R interval remains irregular because of a lack of coordination.

The patient experiencing palpitation or racing of heart, fatigue, reduced the ability to exercise and chest pain.

Arterial fibrillation may be caused due to conduction abnormality, a side effect of medication, stimulants like caffeine, coronary artery disease or due to abnormal heart valves.

Treatment of arterial fibrillation includes cardioversion with drug-like amiodarone or electrical cardioversion.