Cardiac Arrhythmias: Diagnosis and Emergency Management 2024
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Clinical Assessment, ECG Diagnosis and Emergency Management
Please note there is a new version of the course.
The course is an accredited learning activity for 10 hours for medical and nursing continuing professional development.
For GPs the course is an accredited CPD activity for the 2023-2025 triennium with ACRRM (Course Code: 32663: 2.5 Educational Activity and 7.5 Reviewing Performance Hours) and RACGP (Course Code: 776888: 2.5 Educational Activity and 7.5 Reviewing Performance Hours).
Latest Update: January 2024
There can be no doubt that in the minds of many clinicians rhythm diagnosis is the most challenging aspect to ECG interpretation. Add to this the recognition that some rhythms may lead to severe circulatory compromise or if not treated early may lead to cardiac arrest and the pressure is on for a rapid diagnosis of the ECG rhythm !
This course begins by exploring the clinical approach and ECG diagnosis of the patient presenting with an arrhythmia. The first module describes the core principles that provide the foundation for understanding how the ECG "maps" the origin and movement of depolarisation through the heart facilitating the diagnosis of arrhythmias. Immediate treatment priorities in the patient with cardiac arrhythmia are considered together with the clinical features of (life threatening) vital organ hypoperfusion.
In the subsequent modules we explore each of the four major patterns of cardiac arryhthmia: Narrow complex tachycardia, Broad complex tachycardia, Irregular tachycardia and Severe bradycardia. For each pattern we consider the differential diagnosis and identify the "red flag" arrhythmias associated with a high risk for rapid deterioration / cardiac arrest. Using a series of case simulations the diagnosis and emergency management of the Supraventriclar tachycardia (SVT), Rapid Atrial fibrillation (AF), Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) and Complete heart Block (CHB) are discussed in detail.
Topics covered in the course include:
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1. Clinical Approach to the Patient with Arrhythmia
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2. Understanding Depolarisation and the ECG Waveform
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3. Classification of Rhythms and Differential Diagnosis
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4. Recognition of "Red Flag" arrhythmias at high risk for rapid / sudden deterioration
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5. Pharmacological and Electrical Management
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6. Diagnosis and Emergency Management of SVT, VT, AF and CHB