Does anyone know what PJC refers to when interpreting rhythm strips of the heart!
Question: Does anyone know what PJC refers to when interpreting rhythm strips of the heart!?
Answers:
Paroxysmal junctional contraction!. They are usually relatively benign, that is, do not constitute a cardiac emergency or suggest serious pathology, although that is not impossible, especially if other EKG abnormalities are coexisting with the PJCs!.
They're in the family of ectopic beats (arising from a focus other than the SA node) that also includes PACs (paroxysmal atrial contractions) and PVCs (paroxysmal ventricular contractions)!. In all three cases, we're talking about an isolated or irregularly occurring ectopic beat, that is, a cardiac contraction that comes prematurely and originates from a site other than the SA (sinoatrial) node!.
PJCs have no P-waves (or retrograde P-waves buried in the QRS complex) and abnormal but still narrow QRS complexes!. They arise from the junction, which is the AV (atrioventricular) node!. [No image available]
For completeness sake, let's contrast PJCs with PACs and PVCs!.
PAC's have P-waves and abnormal but narrow QRS complexes!. They arise from the atrium!. http://www!.cardionetics!.com/cardiology/a!.!.!. and http://www!.sweethaven02!.com/MedTech/Card!.!.!.
Both of these sites of origin for premature beats, the atrium and the AV junction, like the SA-node beat which generates the normal sinus beats, are above the ventricle, and thus are called supraventricular!. The evidence for this is normal ventricular depolarization which gives the usual narrow QRS complexes!.
PVCs, by contrast, arise from a ventricular focus (ie, below the junction) and generate no P wave (or a retrograde = inverted P wave buried in the QRS complex) as well as wide, bizarre QRS complexes!. http://www!.cardionetics!.com/cardiology/v!.!.!.
Anatomy of the SA node, AV node and myocardium:
http://www!.cvphysiology!.com/Arrhythmias/!.!.!.
Also for completeness, let's contrast paroxysmal (random and unexpected) beats, whether atrial, junctional or ventricular with their counterparts that occur as regular ectopic beats!.
When premature beats are not paroxysmal, they are regular, that is, occurring every beat (atrial tachycardia, junctional tachycardia http://www!.frca!.co!.uk/article!.aspx!?artic!.!.!. or ventricular tachycardia) or every second, third or fourth beat (atrial, junctional or ventricular bigeminy, trigeminy or quadrigeminy)Www@Answer-Health@Com
They're in the family of ectopic beats (arising from a focus other than the SA node) that also includes PACs (paroxysmal atrial contractions) and PVCs (paroxysmal ventricular contractions)!. In all three cases, we're talking about an isolated or irregularly occurring ectopic beat, that is, a cardiac contraction that comes prematurely and originates from a site other than the SA (sinoatrial) node!.
PJCs have no P-waves (or retrograde P-waves buried in the QRS complex) and abnormal but still narrow QRS complexes!. They arise from the junction, which is the AV (atrioventricular) node!. [No image available]
For completeness sake, let's contrast PJCs with PACs and PVCs!.
PAC's have P-waves and abnormal but narrow QRS complexes!. They arise from the atrium!. http://www!.cardionetics!.com/cardiology/a!.!.!. and http://www!.sweethaven02!.com/MedTech/Card!.!.!.
Both of these sites of origin for premature beats, the atrium and the AV junction, like the SA-node beat which generates the normal sinus beats, are above the ventricle, and thus are called supraventricular!. The evidence for this is normal ventricular depolarization which gives the usual narrow QRS complexes!.
PVCs, by contrast, arise from a ventricular focus (ie, below the junction) and generate no P wave (or a retrograde = inverted P wave buried in the QRS complex) as well as wide, bizarre QRS complexes!. http://www!.cardionetics!.com/cardiology/v!.!.!.
Anatomy of the SA node, AV node and myocardium:
http://www!.cvphysiology!.com/Arrhythmias/!.!.!.
Also for completeness, let's contrast paroxysmal (random and unexpected) beats, whether atrial, junctional or ventricular with their counterparts that occur as regular ectopic beats!.
When premature beats are not paroxysmal, they are regular, that is, occurring every beat (atrial tachycardia, junctional tachycardia http://www!.frca!.co!.uk/article!.aspx!?artic!.!.!. or ventricular tachycardia) or every second, third or fourth beat (atrial, junctional or ventricular bigeminy, trigeminy or quadrigeminy)Www@Answer-Health@Com