The three areas used in the arrhythmia classification matrix are bradycardias, tachycardias, and which other factor?

The three areas used in the arrhythmia classification matrix are bradycardias, tachycardias, and which other factor?

• A. Ventricular irritability
• B. Atrial fibrillation
• C. Ischemia
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (A)

Three areas used in the arrhythmia classification matrix are bradycardias, tachycardias, and ventricular irritability. After you determine whether the heart rate is too slow or too fast, you assess how irritable the ventricles are because ventricular irritability drives the likelihood of ventricular ectopy and helps indicate whether the rhythm is more likely to originate from the ventricles and how dangerous it may be. Ischemia, hypertension, or atrial fibrillation are important context for rhythm interpretation, but they don’t define the third axis of this matrix. Ventricular irritability is the third factor that completes the framework.

Three areas used in the arrhythmia classification matrix are bradycardias, tachycardias, and ventricular irritability. After you determine whether the heart rate is too slow or too fast, you assess how irritable the ventricles are because ventricular irritability drives the likelihood of ventricular ectopy and helps indicate whether the rhythm is more likely to originate from the ventricles and how dangerous it may be. Ischemia, hypertension, or atrial fibrillation are important context for rhythm interpretation, but they don’t define the third axis of this matrix. Ventricular irritability is the third factor that completes the framework.