A healthcare professional tells a student that a patient has lost atrial kick. What would the student expect to see when examining this patient?
A)Improvement in atrial dysrhythmias
B)Increased blood pressure
C)Signs of decreased cardiac output
D)Elevations in serum troponin levels

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Left atrial contraction, the atrial kick, provides a significant increase of blood to the left ventricle. This would help to increase cardiac output. With the loss of this atrial kick, the student would expect to find signs of decreased cardiac output such as decreased blood pressure or tachycardia. Loss of atrial kick would not improve dysrhythmias or increase serum troponin levels which usually indicate myocardial damage.

A Healthcare Professional Tells a Student That a Patient Has