Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What describes Junctional Tachycardia?

1. A rhythm starting in the right atrium

2. A rhythm beginning in the AV bundle with a ventricular rate of more than 100 beats/min

3. A rhythm characterized by P waves only

4. A rhythm with P waves occurring before every QRS

The correct answer is: A rhythm beginning in the AV bundle with a ventricular rate of more than 100 beats/min

Junctional tachycardia is characterized by a rapid heart rhythm that originates in the atrioventricular (AV) junction, which is the area where the atria and ventricles are electrically connected. The critical aspect of this condition is that it typically features a ventricular rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. The distinction of junctional tachycardia lies in its point of origin; it starts in the AV bundle rather than the atria themselves or the ventricles, establishing it clearly within the category of junctional rhythms. This explains why the choice indicating a rhythm beginning in the AV bundle with a ventricular rate of more than 100 beats/min is the appropriate description. Junctional tachycardia does not generally present with typical P waves that are visible in other rhythms. Instead, P waves may be absent, inverted, or sometimes appear before or after the QRS complexes, distinguishing it from rhythms in which P waves are consistently associated with each QRS. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the origin and the rate associated with the rhythm to correctly identify junctional tachycardia.