CRAT Ventricular Arrhythmia Identification 2

Question 1

A premature ventricular complex (PVC) is recognized on ECG by which characteristic?

Accepted Answer

Wide QRS greater than 120 ms appearing earlier than expected with a compensatory pause and no preceding P wave

Answer

PVCs arise from an ectopic ventricular focus, producing a wide (> 120 ms), abnormal QRS complex that occurs early in the cycle, not preceded by a P wave, and typically followed by a full compensatory pause.

Question 2

PVCs occurring in pairs (two consecutive PVCs) are referred to as which term?

Accepted Answer

Couplets

Answer

Two consecutive PVCs are called a couplet. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute a run of ventricular tachycardia.

Question 3

Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is distinguished from polymorphic VT by which feature?

Accepted Answer

Monomorphic VT has QRS complexes of uniform appearance; polymorphic VT has QRS complexes that change in morphology and axis

Answer

In monomorphic VT, all QRS complexes originate from the same ventricular focus and appear identical, while polymorphic VT (such as torsades de pointes) has varying QRS morphology because multiple foci are involved.

Question 4

What is the minimum number of consecutive ventricular beats at 100 bpm or greater required to define ventricular tachycardia?

Accepted Answer

Three or more consecutive beats

Answer

Ventricular tachycardia is defined as three or more consecutive ventricular complexes (wide QRS) at a rate of 100 bpm or greater, originating from a ventricular focus.

Question 5

PVCs occurring in a pattern of one PVC for every normal beat are called what?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular bigeminy

Answer

Ventricular bigeminy describes a pattern where every other beat is a PVC, creating an alternating normal-PVC-normal-PVC rhythm.

CRAT - Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician Practice Test

CRAT - Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician Practice Test

CRAT Ventricular Arrhythmia Identification 2