PALS Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

In children, junctional rhythms are often associated with bradycardia due to the unique electrical conduction pathway they utilize. Junctional rhythms arise from the atrioventricular (AV) junction and can occur when the sinus node fails to initiate impulses or when it is bypassed. The presence of a junctional rhythm typically leads to a heart rate that may fall below the normal range, resulting in bradycardia.

In pediatric patients, junctional rhythms are more frequently seen in conditions such as increased vagal tone, certain congenital heart defects, or as a response to medications that can depress heart rate. Monitoring and recognizing this specific rhythm is crucial, as it may require intervention to alleviate the bradycardia and improve cardiac output.

The other arrhythmias listed typically do not present with bradycardia in the same manner as junctional rhythms. For example, sinus rhythm usually maintains a heart rate appropriate for the child's age and is not inherently bradycardic. Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by chaotic and ineffective electrical activity, leading to a lack of effective heartbeats, while atrial flutter generally results in a rapid heart rate rather than a slow one. Understanding these distinctions helps in the appropriate diagnosis and management of pediatric arrhythmias