EKG Question #13

Question

The nurse is caring for a client with a pacemaker and determines that the ventricular pacing is present and has and abnormal appearance per the following electrocardiogram (ECG). The nurse interprets the finding as:

Answers

1. Junctional rhythm with consecutive PVCs
   • Rationale:
2. Accelerated ventricular fibrillation with PVCs
   • Rationale:
3. Ventricular pacing with a triplet of PVCs
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4. Salvo of PVCs related to idioventricular arrhythmia
   • Rationale:

Overview

Explanation

The best description of the ECG strip is ventricular pacing (identify the pacing), with triplet PVCs (three at a time). This could also be interpreted as a short run of V-tach. Triplets are also called salvo PVCs. In the selections from the strip, junctional rhythms will usually have a normal QRS even though the P waves may or may not be visible; ventricular fibrillation is not named as accelerated and will have unmeasurable rate, absent P waves, and ECG tracings as wavy lines; salvo of PVCs is a correct term, but the ECG strip does not represent idioventricular arrhythmia since the heart rate is between 50-60 and idioventricular rates are usually lower than 40 beats per minute.

Learning Outcomes

Test Taking Tip

Video Rationale