Question

The 8-year-old child you are treating has a palpable pulse and a heart rate of 200. You look at the monitor and see a rapid rhythm with narrow QRS complexes. There are no discernible P waves on the monitor. The rhythm is probably:

Answer 1

The 8-year-old child likely has supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) due to the rapid rhythm with narrow QRS complexes and no discernible P waves on the monitor. The heart rate of 200 beats per minute is higher than the normal resting heart rate for adults, but normal for children. Treatment options for SVT in children may include medications, non-medical maneuvers, or catheter ablation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The provided information suggests that the 8-year-old child has a rapid rhythm with narrow QRS complexes and no discernible P waves on the monitor. This pattern is indicative of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). SVT is a condition where the electrical signals in the heart's upper chambers (the atria) become abnormal, causing a rapid heart rate.

In this case, the heart rate of 200 beats per minute is higher than the normal resting heart rate for an adult, which is usually between 60-100 bpm. However, it's important to note that the normal resting heart rates of children are often above 100 bpm.

Treatment for SVT in children can vary depending on the severity and frequency of the episodes, but options may include medications, non-medical maneuvers (such as vagal maneuvers), or catheter ablation for more persistent cases.