Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What does the presence of a delta wave typically indicate?

1. Atrial flutter

2. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

3. Myocardial infarction

4. Normal variant

The correct answer is: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The presence of a delta wave is typically associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by the presence of an accessory pathway that allows electrical signals to bypass the normal conduction system. The delta wave reflects the early depolarization of the ventricles due to this abnormal pathway, leading to a characteristic pattern on an ECG that distinguishes it from other conditions. In WPW syndrome, the delta wave results in a shortened PR interval and a wide QRS complex, which are fundamental features observed in an ECG reading. This distinct pattern is crucial for diagnosis and management of the syndrome, making it a significant marker in the context of cardiac rhythms. Other conditions, such as atrial flutter, myocardial infarction, or even normal variants, do not typically present with delta waves in the same manner as WPW does. Atrial flutter is characterized by different types of waveforms that reflect atrial rhythms without the early ventricular activation indicated by the delta wave. Myocardial infarction may show changes such as ST-segment elevation or depression but does not feature delta waves. Lastly, while there are normal variants in ECG readings, the presence of a delta wave specifically points towards the abnormal condition of WPW syndrome. Thus, recognizing