Every Wednesday we have a quiz on EKG's. Many of the students here do not have the extensive background us ACPer's have and it leads to great confusion. In Dr. Raley's patho class we learned how to interpret and even map out EKG's which was much more helpful than I anticipated. Our diagnostics class is where we learn how to read EKG's in a fast paced fashion. To many students, this is giving them palpitations--but for us, we are very familiar with these and are just learning the terminology for the pathologies instead of trying to start from ground zero. I would encourage anyone to take a pathophysiology class or even a cardio class in order to prepare for how fast paced PA school is. These tests are very detailed and being off by one beat in a rate measurement will result in an incorrect answer to a question. Basically, you have to know your stuff, and if you don't, its very hard to guess and get lucky. Most of the students are getting very confused and fight with our instructor because they are not comfortable with being nit picky. Essentially, this blog entry is to thank Dr. Raley for his awesome cardio lectures because if it were not for him, I would not be acing these mini quizzes.
Pop Quiz! What is the rhythm of this strip?
Pop Quiz! What is the rhythm of this strip?
Answer: Normal Sinus Rhythm with Multifocal Ventricular Trigeminy
Why? Underlying rhythm is sinus but with events of PVC's after every two normal cycles (which is why its trigeminy) and the PVC's are different looking meaning they are from two different irritable foci in the ventricles. If they were the same irritable foci causing the PVC then that would be unifocal.
If you cannot tell already... I LOVE this stuff.
Why? Underlying rhythm is sinus but with events of PVC's after every two normal cycles (which is why its trigeminy) and the PVC's are different looking meaning they are from two different irritable foci in the ventricles. If they were the same irritable foci causing the PVC then that would be unifocal.
If you cannot tell already... I LOVE this stuff.