Rhythms

• Discuss cardiac monitoring
• Review cardiac electrophysiology
• Identify normal sinus rhythm
• Identify compromising and life threatening arrhythmias

Change in the rate, origin or conduction of the cardiac electrical impulses.

Routine monitoring of respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure is vital for infants and children with critical illness.  In order to provide for rapid reference it is astute to have the normal age related values for vital signs readily accessible or displayed.  A good quick calculation for a perfusing systolic blood pressure is:  70 + (age (yrs) x 2)Download the Paediatric Resuscitation Reference card which provides guidelines for age appropriate vital sign values using the link below.

Paediatric Resuscitation Reference Card

The initial cardiac rhythm discovered in paediatric cardiorespiratory arrest on early ECG monitoring is often asystole or severe bradycardia.  The incidence of VT/VF as the initial rhythm is approximately 10%.  ANZCOR Guideline 12.2, 2024; Voorde et al, 2021