8a: Recognizing Tachycardia (2021) OLD

This lesson covers Recognizing Tachycardia. It is a potentially life-threatening issue depending on whether it compromises the heart’s ability to perfuse effectively. Signs and symptoms are listed and appropriate actions for specific tachycardia events are explained.

"Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate greater than what is considered normal for a child’s age. Like bradycardia, tachycardia can be life-threatening if it compromises the heart’s ability to perfuse effectively.

When the heart beats too quickly, there is a shortened relaxation phase, which causes two main problems: the ventricles are unable to fill completely, so cardiac output is lowered; and the coronary arteries receive less blood, so supply to the heart is decreased.

Signs and symptoms of tachycardia include respiratory distress or failure, poor tissue perfusion (for example, low urine output), altered mental state, pulmonary edema or congestion, and weak, rapid pulse.

There are several kinds of tachycardia, and they can be difficult to differentiate in children on ECG due to the elevated heart rate. The following is a list of the kinds of tachycardia and what happens during the specific tachycardic event:

Sinus Tachycardia - normal rhythm with fast rate; is likely non-dangerous, and commonly occurs during stress or fever
Supraventricular Tachycardia - rhythm starts above the ventricles
Atrial Fibrillation - causes irregularly irregular heart rhythm
Atrial Flutter - causes a sawtooth pattern on ECG
Ventricular Tachycardia - rhythm starts in the ventricles"

**************************************
Follow us on social media!

Together, let’s save lives.