Rhythm InterpretationQuestion 28 of 100
A monitor alarms for ventricular fibrillation, but the technician finds the patient sitting up, alert, and brushing her teeth, and a regular narrow-complex rhythm is visible between the chaotic sections. What is the most likely explanation?
a.Intermittent true ventricular fibrillation
b.Third-degree AV block
c.Pacemaker malfunction
d.Muscle movement artifact
Explanation
An alert, talking patient cannot be in ventricular fibrillation, and the presence of underlying normal complexes marching through the chaos identifies the tracing as motion artifact. True ventricular fibrillation has no organized QRS complexes anywhere and produces immediate unresponsiveness. AV block and pacemaker failure both produce organized, measurable patterns rather than chaotic noise tied to the patient's activity.
Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A strip shows a constant PR interval of 0.20 second on conducted beats, but every third P wave is suddenly not followed by a QRS complex. What is this rhythm?
- A strip shows a regular ventricular rhythm at 40 beats per minute with wide QRS complexes, regular P waves at 80 per minute, and no consistent relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes. What is this rhythm?
- A strip shows a sharp, narrow vertical spike immediately before each wide QRS complex at a regular rate of 70. What does this indicate?
- Which group of rhythms is considered immediately life-threatening and requires the technician to summon help right away?
- What does the QT interval measure on an EKG tracing?
- A strip shows a normal sinus beat followed by a wide bizarre beat, then another sinus beat followed by another wide bizarre beat, repeating throughout the strip. What is this pattern called?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) Exam · How we review