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Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.

Anatomy of the Heart

Anatomy of the Heart

The human heart is made up of three layers of tissue that are surrounded by the pericardium, a membrane that protects and confines the heart. The outermost layer, closest to the pericardium, is the epicardium. The pericardial cavity separates the pericardium from the epicardium. Beneath the epicardium is the myocardium, the middle layer, and the endocardium, the innermost layer. There are four chambers of the heart: the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium, and the left ventricle.

Disorders of Hemostasis

Disorders of Hemostasis

Hemostasis, the process that stops bleeding after a blood vessel injury, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system. However, disorders of hemostasis can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to either excessive clotting or bleeding. These disorders can be broadly classified into thromboembolic disorders and bleeding disorders.
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.

Dysrhythmias I: Introduction

Dysrhythmias I: Introduction

Dysrhythmias refers to abnormalities in the heart's rhythm. They result from disruptions in the heart's electrical conduction system, which includes the sinoatrial(SA)node, atrioventricular(AV) node, the bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.Definition and PathophysiologyDysrhythmias result from disorders of impulse formation, impulse conduction, or both. The heart contains specialized cells in the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, and the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers...

Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings I: Inspection and Palpation

Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings I: Inspection and Palpation

In a cardiovascular examination, inspection and palpation are crucial for identifying abnormalities.
Abnormal findings observed during an inspection

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

Published on: February 5, 2021

Earthing defect: a cause for unstable hemodynamics.

R Barani Selvan¹, Parnandi Bhaskar Rao, T R Ramachandran

¹Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Kanagachettikulam, Pondicherry, India. baraniselvan@gmail.com

Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia

|January 12, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) artifacts can mimic arrhythmias, leading to incorrect treatments. A rare case highlights how echocardiography machine defects caused ECG interference, resulting in intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) failure.

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Area of Science:

Medical Devices
Cardiology
Critical Care Medicine

Background:

Monitored electrocardiogram (ECG) interference is frequent in critical care settings.
ECG artifacts can mimic serious arrhythmias, leading to inappropriate interventions like antiarrhythmics or defibrillation.
Artifacts can also cause hemodynamic compromise by affecting devices like intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs).

Observation:

A rare instance of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) failure was observed.
The failure was directly linked to electrocardiogram (ECG) artifact.
The artifact appeared specifically when a transthoracic echocardiography probe was placed on the patient's chest.

Findings:

Further investigation revealed a potential current leakage from the echocardiography machine.
An earthing defect in the echocardiography equipment was identified as the cause of the current leakage.
This leakage induced the ECG artifact, leading to the IABP malfunction.

Implications:

This case underscores the risk of device-induced interference in monitored ECGs.
It highlights the potential for serious hemodynamic consequences due to such artifacts.
Ensuring proper earthing and maintenance of medical equipment is crucial to prevent critical events in intensive care and operating theaters.