Final answer:
If the QRS complex is wide and bizarre, ventricular arrhythmia may be present. Abnormalities in the QRS complex on an ECG can indicate serious heart conditions like ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, which often require defibrillation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the QRS complex appears wide and bizarre, the medical assistant should suspect ventricular arrhythmia is occurring. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an essential tool in diagnosing heart conditions, and abnormalities in the QRS complex can indicate serious forms of arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. In ventricular tachycardia, the shape of the QRS complex is abnormal, typically wider than normal. In the case of ventricular fibrillation, there is disorganized electrical activity, and the QRS complex may be completely absent or barely discernible. Both of these conditions are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment, commonly an electrical shock to the heart in the form of defibrillation to restore a normal rhythm.