A 55-year-old patient with a history of hypertension is undergoing a routine ECG as part of their annual check-up. The ECG reveals a first-degree AV block. Which of the following statements about first-degree AV block is correct?
First-degree AV block is characterized by a prolonged PR interval greater than 0.20 seconds.
First-degree AV block is a type of heart block where some atrial impulses fail to reach the ventricles.
Patients with first-degree AV block typically present with symptoms such as syncope or dizziness.
First-degree AV block often requires immediate treatment with a pacemaker.
The Correct Answer is A
Rationale:
A. In first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, all atrial impulses reach the ventricles, but conduction through the AV node is delayed. This delay is reflected on the ECG as a PR interval longer than 0.20 seconds, while the QRS complex remains normal. First-degree AV block is usually asymptomatic and often does not require treatment.
B. This description fits second-degree AV block, not first-degree. In first-degree block, no impulses are blocked, only delayed.
C. First-degree AV block is generally asymptomatic, and patients rarely experience symptoms. Symptoms such as syncope are more characteristic of higher-degree AV blocks.
D. Pacemaker therapy is not indicated for first-degree AV block unless it progresses to higher-degree AV block with symptomatic bradycardia. Immediate intervention is not needed in asymptomatic patients.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Amylase is an enzyme primarily elevated in pancreatic disorders such as pancreatitis, not myocardial infarction.
B. Unconjugated bilirubin is elevated in hemolysis or liver dysfunction. It is not a marker of myocardial injury.
C. AST can be elevated after myocardial infarction, but it is nonspecific because it is also found in liver, skeletal muscle, and kidneys. It rises later and is not the most sensitive early marker.
D. Troponin I is highly specific to cardiac muscle injury and increases within 3–6 hours after myocardial infarction, making it a primary early diagnostic marker. It remains elevated for 7–10 days, helping confirm myocardial injury.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Cardiac enzyme tests indicate myocardial injury but do not pinpoint the exact location of the infarct; imaging or ECG is required for localization.
B. Cardiac enzymes, such as troponin and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), are released into the bloodstream when myocardial cells are damaged. Their levels correlate with the extent of cardiac tissue injury, helping providers assess severity and guide treatment.
C. Pulmonary congestion is assessed via physical examination, chest X-ray, or echocardiography, not cardiac enzyme levels.
D. Structural assessment requires echocardiography or other imaging, not blood enzyme studies.
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