Good explanation of post surgery arrhytmias

[Nancy]

I was perusing the WebMD message board that deals with Cardiac Devices, and came across a very good explanation of post surgical arrhythmias. The answer by Betty Ching, the nurse who monitors the board was very informative.

Here's the link:

http://boards.webmd.com/roundtable_message/2888438

 

[srwieland]

Thanks, Nancy.

 

[John Cochran]

Aaarrrggghhhhh (sp?)

Aaarrrggghhhhh (sp?)

Nancy,
Thanks for posting the WebMD reference, but I have a serious bone to pick with the nurse who answered. She referred to the heart's conduction system as a bunch of NERVES--wrong!

The nodes and conduction system of the heart do not function the way neurons function; the fibers act as a bona fide electrical conduction system, ALMOST independent of the central or peripheral nervous system. The autonomic nervous system, the same system that automatically controls blood pressure, breathing and excretion, for example, controls the firing of the sinus node, which triggers the start of the cardiac cycle. This system can make snap decisions, causing the sinus node to increase the heart rate to twice normal within only 3 to 5 seconds. This flexibility is important during exercise, when the heart must rapidly increase its beating speed to keep up with the body's increased demand for oxygenThe picture below is a rough diagram of the heart's conduction system.

A well written description of the heart's conduction system can be found at: http://www.duke.edu/~wj/ecg/background.html

A very nice animated drawing of the heart's conduction system can be seen at:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8059/8049/315136.html?d=dmtContent

--John

 

[Nancy]

Hi John-

You are THE MAN! I like your explanation. That's what maked this site the best. We have so many knowlegeable people here.