Great discussion so far guys. That's the "beauty" of ECG strips, everyone sees a little something different.
The only one that EVERYONE can agree on just by glancing at it is, Asystole.
Trap: sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but as has been answered, Cardioversion is like defibrillation but at a lower setting, usually at 100 joules. You can also cardiovert using chemicals, (adenosine, adenocard, ect.). It's actually pretty wild when the Pt. is still awake and talking and you tell them you're going to have to shock them. My old medic partner had to do that once, with a Pt. in SVT (rate 230) and after attempting a vagal maneuver and x3 rounds of adenosine, the only thing left was to hook him and press the flashing light.
Answers to Brush's questions are in
BOLD ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie
A few questions.
How confused ie spontaneous eye open? Babbling or speaking but confused? She answers questions appropriately, but her speech is very sluggish.
Is she Short of breath? No
Lung Sounds? Clear and equal bi-lat
Depandant Edema? Non noted
What is her neuro like ie weakness on one side or pupils uneven? Equal grip strength, although weak in squeezing, but no obvious defects noted. Pupils: PERRL at 4mm
Can you find her meds around the house? She keeps saying they're "over there. Neither you or her friend can find them.
What is her capillary refill? Slightly sluggish
Does she appear dehydrated ie tenting of skin? No
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Here's a refresher on counting rates using the "boxes".
If you can, find a QRS, where the R wave lands on one of the darker lines. Then count to the right, the darker lines, or .2 seconds apart. (Small box ='s 0.04 seconds. 5 small boxes x 0.04 sec = 0.2 seconds) 5 large boxes = 1 second.)
With the R wave on a dark line, count the dark lines till it comes up to another R wave, counting 300, 150, 100, 75, 60, 50, 43, 37.
But remember, the pattern needs to be regular.
Looking at the strip posted above, if you look at the 9th complex from the left, it falls on a dark line. Use the formula above (and below) to get your rate.