Question

An 11-year-old male has been skateboarding in 100 degree temperatures and has been drinking caffeinated soft drinks. He complains of palpitations. The cardiac monitor displays a narrow QRS tachycardia at a rate of 160 beats/minute. Vital signs are B/P 110/60. P 160. R 20. What should you do?

Answer 1

Answer:

Transport the patient by ambulance, monitor closely and administer fluids en route.

Explanation:

The rate of a normal resting heartbeat is 60 to 100 per minute. The atria (the two smaller chambers of the heart) contract simultaneously and so does the ventricles (the two largest chambers). This mechanism causes the “double beat” characteristic of the heart: tummy, tummy… Exercise, emotional stress and even stimulating drugs can increase the heart rate to 200 or more beats and cause the heart to beat too fast. When this happens we call it tachycardia.

In the case of the man shown in the question, tachycardia occurs because of the ingestion of caffeinated soda. Although tachycardia is normal for those who use this type of substance, if the heart beats too fast it can lead to congestive heart failure and even myocardial infarction. For this reason, the ideal thing to do for this man is to transport him in an ambulance, closely monitor him and administer fluids on the way, as fluids can adjust the heart rate.