| Preventing torsades de pointes by careful cardiac monitoring in hospital settings. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18019519 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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In the electrocardiogram, the QT interval represents the time it takes the ventricular myocardium to repolarize. Prolongation of the QT interval indicates congenital or acquired abnormality of cardiac membrane channels. In the critical care setting, acquired long QT interval most commonly results from administration of common pharmacologic agents, including some antiarrhythmics and antibiotics. Patients with prolonged QT interval may be at risk for developing torsades de pointes and cardiac arrest. Furthermore, new-onset bradyarrhythmias and electrolyte disorders may increase this risk. Warning signs of impending sustained torsades de pointes include occurrence of polymorphic ventricular ectopic complexes, T-wave alternans, and nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Measurement and documentation of the QT interval, corrected for heart rate (QTc), is an important component of cardiac monitoring in the critical care setting. When prolonged QTc occurs in patients at risk, specific clinical interventions must be implemented to prevent the occurrence of torsades de pointes. |
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Authors:
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Claire E Sommargren; Barbara J Drew |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: AACN advanced critical care Volume: 18 ISSN: 1559-7768 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2007 Jul-Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-11-16 Completed Date: 2007-12-07 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101269322 Medline TA: AACN Adv Crit Care Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 285-93 Citation Subset: N |
Affiliation:
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School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. claire.sommargren@nursing.ucsf.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Critical Care
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methods* Documentation Electrocardiography / methods*, nursing Heart Rate Humans Long QT Syndrome / complications* Mathematics Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*, nursing Nurse's Role Nursing Assessment Nursing Records Patient Selection Practice Guidelines as Topic Risk Factors Tachycardia, Supraventricular / complications, diagnosis Tachycardia, Ventricular / complications, diagnosis Torsades de Pointes* / diagnosis, etiology, prevention & control |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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