"Bundle Switches"

[lsad78]

I have been working on a Progressive Care Unit for over a year now (i.e. mainly a cardiac unit; +MI's, cardiac caths, PPM)...Occasionally the Telemetry monitor will alarm w/ a faster rhythm than the pt's own (about 140's or so), for a few beats w/ the "rabbit ears" we call a bundle branch block; then right back into the pt's own natural rhythm...Typically everyone says, "Oooh it's just a Bundle switch."...I was trying to find some literature on it and really couldn't find much...Any info would be gladly welcomed...Thanks to all in advance!:redbeathe:confused:

[ukstudent]

You can't find any literature on it due to the fact that it doesn't exist. A bundle block means that part of the heart is dead and no longer conducting. If it's dead, then it's dead. It will not suddenly come alive and the dead spot move around to the other side.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

this is from the univ. of utah and to me explains pretty well most arrhythmias.

http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/ecg_outline/Lesson6/index.html

THen there's always you tube Wenkebach

http://www.youtube.com/med2010

[Zookeeper3]

you can't find any literature on it due to the fact that it doesn't exist. a bundle block means that part of the heart is dead and no longer conducting. if it's dead, then it's dead. it will not suddenly come alive and the dead spot move around to the other side.

please refer to the articles below, it does indeed exist and there are very many reasons why it occurs, sometimes routinely. in my cardiac world this is real and the above explanation is very wrong. please refer to the below articles

http://www.springerlink.com/content/hw7534w51l700424/

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/63/5/666

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/895064-overview this is a good bundle explanation

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc487113/

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118620927/abstract?cretry=1&sretry=0

[Zookeeper3]

http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/ecg_outline/Lesson6/index.html

THIS is a great one, try this site first it is friendlier.

[ukstudent]

Thank you. I had never heard of it by this term. Learned something new.