You have been asked to perform an ECG on a hospital patient who was admitted to the cardiac care unit this morning. When you review the ECG tracing from the emergency department before the patient was admitted, you notice that the patient had an idioventricular rhythm. As you prepare to enter the patient's room, you will not be surprised to find the patient in what state?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An idioventricular rhythm is a slow heart rhythm that arises from a ventricular pacemaker site instead of the normal atrial pacemaker site. This rhythm usually occurs in patients with significant damage to the heart's conduction system or myocardium, and it is often accompanied by other signs of myocardial infarction. In severe cases, patients may experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. Therefore, it is likely that the patient in this scenario is unconscious, as a result of their cardiac condition.

You Have Been Asked to Perform an ECG on a Hospital