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The nurse notes that the QRS duration of a patient with a biventricular pacemaker is widening? What does this most likely indicate?

1. Worsening of the patient's underlying cardiomyopathy
2. Loss of ventricular capture
3. Loss of ventricular synchronization
4. Battery failure

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A widening QRS duration in a patient with a biventricular pacemaker may indicate a synchronization issue between the ventricles, potentially due to battery failure. Changes on an ECG, such as an increased frequency between QRS complexes, could result in an increased heart rate, pointing to conditions like tachycardia. It's crucial to seek medical attention to correct these abnormalities.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient with a biventricular pacemaker is experiencing a widening of the QRS duration on an electrocardiogram (ECG), this could be indicative of an issue with the pacemaker's functionality. In the context of a biventricular pacemaker, widening of the QRS complex suggests that the synchronization between the two ventricles might be compromised. One possible cause of this could be battery failure, which would lead to inadequate electrical stimulation of the ventricles.

An abnormal electrical pattern prior to the QRS complexes and an increase in the frequency between the QRS complexes could imply an irregular heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, or a conduction block, like bundle branch block. It's important to monitor these changes as they can impact the heart rate (pulse). An ECG provides comprehensive insight into cardiac function, and changes in the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave can indicate an array of cardiac issues.

If the frequency between the QRS complexes has increased, one would expect an increased heart rate, which is typically associated with conditions such as tachycardia. Timely medical intervention is essential to address the underlying cause and restore proper cardiac function.

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