SINUS ARRHYTHMIA

Course overview

SINUS ARRHYTHMIA IS A VARIATION OF NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM THAT CHARACTERISTICALLY PRESENTS WITH AN IRREGULAR RATE IN WHICH THE CHANGE IN THE R-R INTERVAL IS GREATER THAN 0.12 SECONDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE P WAVES ARE TYPICALLY MONOFORM AND IN A PATTERN CONSISTENT WITH ATRIAL ACTIVATION ORIGINATING FROM THE SINUS NODE. DURING RESPIRATION, THE INTERMITTENT VAGUS NERVE ACTIVATION OCCURS, WHICH RESULTS IN BEAT TO BEAT VARIATIONS IN THE RESTING HEART RATE. WHEN PRESENT, SINUS ARRHYTHMIA TYPICALLY INDICATES GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE DIAGNOSIS OF SINUS ARRHYTHMIA ON TELEMETRY AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.