Final answer:
Dysrhythmia on an FHR strip can present as an irregular heart rate, abnormal heart rate variability, premature ventricular contractions, or a prolonged QT interval, indicating issues with the electrical conduction system of the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dysrhythmia, also known as arrhythmia or heart arrhythmia, includes a range of conditions where the heartbeat is irregular, too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). On an FHR (Fetal Heart Rate) strip, characteristics of a dysrhythmia can include:
- An irregular heart rate, which may appear as variations in the time intervals between heartbeats.
- Abnormal heart rate variability, which refers to inconsistent changes in the heart rate pattern that deviates from the normal range.
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which are extra heartbeats arising from one of the ventricles of the heart.
- A prolonged QT interval, which indicates an extended duration between the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave in an ECG cycle. This can be a marker of potential heart rhythm disturbances.
These characteristics are significant as they can signal underlying electrical conduction system problems of the heart, and may necessitate further diagnostic measures, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or a Holter monitor.