Sinoatrial arrest is a medical condition wherein the sinoatrial node of the heart transiently ceases to generate the electrical impulses that normally stimulate the myocardial tissues to contract and thus the heart to beat. It is defined as lasting from 2.0 seconds to several minutes.[1] Since the heart contains multiple pacemakers, this interruption of the cardiac cycle generally lasts only a few seconds before another part of the heart, such as the atrio-ventricular junction or the ventricles, begins pacing and restores the heart action. This condition can be detected on an electrocardiogram (ECG) as a brief period of irregular length with no electrical activity before either the sinoatrial node resumes normal pacing, or another pacemaker begins pacing. If a pacemaker other than the sinoatrial node is pacing the heart, this condition is known as an escape rhythm. If no other pacemaker begins pacing during an episode of sinus arrest it becomes a cardiac arrest. This condition is sometimes confused with sinoatrial block, a condition in which the pacing impulse is generated, but fails to conduct through the myocardium. Differential diagnosis of the two conditions is possible by examining the exact length of the interruption of cardiac activity.
If the next available pacemaker takes over, it is in the following order:
Atrial escape (rate 60–80): originates within atria, not sinus node (normal P morphology is lost).
Junctional escape (rate 40–60): originates near the AV node; a normal P wave is not seen, may occasionally see a retrograde P wave.
Ventricular escape (rate 20–40): originates in ventricular conduction system; no P wave, wide, abnormal QRS.
Treatment includes stop medications that suppress the sinus node (beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, digitalis); may need pacing.
Sinoatrialarrest is a medical condition wherein the sinoatrial node of the heart transiently ceases to generate the electrical impulses that normally...
A sinoatrial block (also spelled sinuatrial block) is a disorder in the normal rhythm of the heart, known as a heart block, that is initiated in the sinoatrial...
is considered part of the diagnoses included in SVT by most sources. Sinoatrial node reentrant tachycardia (SANRT) is caused by a reentry circuit localised...
Cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest, is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. As a result, blood cannot properly circulate...
severely conduction is being blocked. Conduction is initiated by the sinoatrial node ("sinus node" or "SA node"), and then travels to the atrioventricular...
disorganized electrical activity. Ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse. This is followed by sudden cardiac...
arrhythmia include sinus pause, sinus arrest, and sinoatrial exit block. Sinus pause and arrest involve slowing or arresting of automatic impulse generation...
of the heart, with an increased rate of electrical discharge from the sinoatrial node, resulting in a tachycardia, a heart rate that is higher than the...
rhythm. In this condition the normal electrical pulses coming from the sinoatrial node are overwhelmed by disorganized electrical impulses usually originating...
pacemaker) in the upper chambers (atria) of the heart, rather than from the sinoatrial node, the normal origin of the heart's electrical activity. As with any...
node dysfunction can also present with sudden sinus arrest with or without junctional escape, sinoatrial block, prolonged asystolic period followed by tachycardias...
necessitating stopping the heart). Asystole is the most serious form of cardiac arrest and is usually irreversible. Also referred to as cardiac flatline, asystole...
electrocardiogram: The heart rhythm must originate above the ventricles (i.e., sinoatrial node, atria or atrioventricular node) to activate the conduction system...
is a sinus rhythm with a reduced rate of electrical discharge from the sinoatrial node, resulting in a bradycardia, a heart rate that is lower than the...
"junction" between atria and ventricles. Under normal conditions, the heart's sinoatrial node (SA node) determines the rate by which the organ beats – in other...
cardiac arrest. This conversion of the VT into VF is called the degeneration of the VT. It is found initially in about 7% of people in cardiac arrest. Ventricular...
heart's electrical system. The heart's electrical activity begins in the sinoatrial node (the heart's natural pacemaker), which is situated on the upper right...
ventricles, or the lower chambers of the heart, is impaired. Normally, the sinoatrial node (SA node) produces an electrical signal to control the heart rate...
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