Pearls of Knowledge: AV Dissociation

Dysrhythmias: AV Dissociation 

Pearls of Knowledge          © BrainyNurses.com

AV dissociation occurs when there are two pacemakers present in the heart, usually for a relatively short period of time. The rate of the atria and ventricles will be very similar, but they are not “married”. The rhythm is easy to mistake for third-degree heart block. 

Generally, the P waves will appear to “fade” into the QRS complexes and come out the back.

Rhythm analysis

(The P waves fade into the QRS and come out the back. The P waves are caused by the SA node. The QRS complexes are coming from the AV junction since the QRS is a normal duration.)