Ectopic Complexes: Difference between revisions
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→Compensatory or noncompensatory pause
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==Compensatory or noncompensatory pause== | ==Compensatory or noncompensatory pause== | ||
The duration of the interval following a premature beat can help in the differentiation of a atrial or ventricula premature beat. | |||
===Non- | ===Non-Compensatory pause, following an atrial premature beat=== | ||
If a sinusbeat is followed by an atrial premature beat, the electrical activity of the atrial premature beat can enter the sinusnode and reset its timing. If the sinusrate was for example 60 /min, the reset pacemakercells will restart firing after 1 full second has passed. The time from the extra beat to the next QRS complex in this example is thus 1 second. The sequence "normal sinus beat" - "atrial premature beat" - "normal sinus beat" will therefore shorter than the 3 seconds it would have taken if the premature beat had not occured. This is called a non (fully) compensatory pause. | |||
Sometimes the electrical activity of the APB cannot enter the sinusnode due to refractoriness of the sinus node (if the interval between previosu sinusbeat and APB is short) or due to electrical block to enter the sinus node (as in sinus nodal disease). | |||
=== | ===Fully compensatory pause, following a ventricular prematur beat=== | ||
The electrical activity of a ventricular premature beat is usually not conducted through the AV node towards the atria. The sinus node will not be reset. If the next sinus beat finds the AV nodal tissue still refractory (and thus not conducting) there will be a pause until the next sinus beat follows. The interval between the premature ventricular beat and the next sinus beat will be longer (longer than 1 second in the above sample of a heart rate of 60 / min). This is called a fully compensatory pause. Using a calliper the preceding sinus rate can be tracked beyond the ventricular premature beat. This is a telltale sign of a ventricular premature beat without retrograde conduction. | |||
==Parasystole== | ==Parasystole== |