Question

Client has an irregular heart rate of around 100 beats/minute and a significant pulse deficit. What component of the client's history would produce such symptoms?

A) atrial fibrillation
B) atrial flutter
C) heart block
D) bundle branch block

Answer 1

An irregular heartbeat and significant pulse deficit are indicative of atrial fibrillation, which matches the abnormal patterns seen in an ECG. The Purkinje fibers have the slowest rate of firing within the heart's conduction system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms presented, an irregular heartbeat with a rate of around 100 beats per minute and a significant pulse deficit, suggest the presence of an arrhythmia. Specifically, atrial fibrillation (A) would align with these symptoms, as it is characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can lead to poor blood flow. The electrical impulses of the heart are erratic and disorganized, which results in irregular contractions of the atria.

In the context of the heart's conduction system, given the possible components with their inherent rate of firing—atrioventricular node, atrioventricular bundle, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers—the Purkinje fibers (D) would have the slowest rate of firing at 15-20 impulses per minute.

For a patient with atrial fibrillation and other similar conditions, it is crucial to normalize heart rhythm to prevent potential complications such as stroke or heart failure. Atrial fibrillation can disrupt the synchronization between the atria and ventricles, leading to a pulse deficit where all heartbeats do not result in a palpable pulse.