Premature Atrial Contraction
Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
- Define the term premature atrial contraction (PAC) and describe its morphologic characteristics. (pp 201–203)
- Discuss the need for calculating the P-wave axis and describe how it is obtained. (pp 203–205)
- Describe how the location of an ectopic atrial focus would cause a change in the length of the PR interval. (pp 205–206)
- Describe and compare compensatory and noncompensatory pauses. (p 208)
- Discuss the diagnostic usefulness of both a compensatory and a noncompensatory pause in the diagnosis of an arrhythmia. (pp 208–209)
- Discuss how an aberrantly conducted PAC occurs and why. (pp 209–210)
- Define the term buried P wave and discuss how fusion alters its morphologic appearance on a rhythm strip or ECG. (pp 210–211)
- Accurately predict the appearance of the presence of a blocked PAC falling on the previous T wave on a rhythm strip or ECG. (p 212)
- List some clinical conditions or circumstances that are associated with the formation of a PAC. (p 213)
- Accurately identify PACs on a rhythm strip or ECG. (pp 213–217)
