12 Lead ECG Ch.8-14 Flashcards
An ECG can never be used to ______ only to _____.
An ECG can never be used to rule out an MI only to rule one in. This is because it’s sensitivity rating only catches about 46-50% of acute changes, so a pt could be having an MI and the ECG won’t show it.
What are the 3 categories of triage criteria?
- ST segment elevation or new onset of a LBBB
- T wave inversion or ST segment depression
- Nondiagnostic ECG
What are the 4 indicators for ST Segment elevation and does does it mean for the heart?
Look for:
- Injury (damaged but salvageable)
- ST segment elevation > 1mm (2mm for septal leads)
- Present in 2 or more related or anatomically
contiguous leads
- Measure at J point (plus 40ms) to baseline
ST segment elevation means acute transmural injury - across the 3 layers of the heart- and is a significant finding
(as opposed to depression which may be caused by damage to only 1 layer of the heart)
3 causes of ST segment depression?
- Reciprocal changes to ST segment elevation
- Ischemia or subendocardial injury
- Certain meds, such as digitalis
Which is a more significant finding, ST segment elevation or depression?
Elevation because it indicates there is more damage to the heart (3 layers as opposed to 1 in dep.)
often there will be elevation also when there is depression found, and when both are present, the depression is considered to be reciprocal to the elevation
What does it mean if there is ST segment depression when there is NOT Elevation found?
If elevation is not present when there is Depression, it is a sign that either the patient is experiencing myocardial ischemia or injury to a subendocardial wall, which involves only 1 layer of the heart muscle.
It is not triaged for reperfusion strategy (like ST elevation) but should still be treated with anticoagulant therapy and by MONA (morphine, oxygen, nitro, aspirin)
What is the importance of an inverted T wave?
It is the result of the beginning of myocardial ischemia and an early warning sign to an AMI as it may show up just before ST segment elevation
After nitro is given and the ischemic area is re-perfused (if it worked) the ST segment elevation or depression might disappear but the T wave will still remain inverted indicating at a block in flow still exists
What are 3 key points about inverted T waves?
- a sign of Ischemia (transient reduction in blood flow)
- Symmetrical inverted T waves in two or more related
leads needed - Inverted T waves normal in Leads V1 and III
What is a Pathological Q wave?
a Q wave is considered pathological if it is more that 40ms wide (0.04sec) or 1/3 of the R wave height.
It is the sign that infarction or death of tissues has occurred
When seen with ST segment elevation, it indicates
ongoing acute myocardial infarction
What are the 3 indicators of infarct (necrosis or death) shown by the Q wave?
- Pathological Q waves
- > 40ms, or 0.04sec wide, or 1/3 of R wave height
- When seen with ST segment elevation, it indicates
ongoing acute myocardial infarction
What is the ISAL chart and what is it used for?
It stands for I See All Leads and is an organized way of how to look at which leads for sign of an MI (ST elevation, depression, inverted T waves, Patho Q waves)
Inferior = II, III, aVF
Septal = V1, V2
Anterior = V3, V4
Lateral = V5 (low), V6 (low), I (high), aVL (high)
Watch YouTube vid on how to do a 15 lead or its on pg 109!!
Watch YouTube vid on how to do a 15 lead or its on pg 109!!
Why would you want to take a 15 lead ECG reading?
When there is evidence of an acute inferior or posterior infarction (post would be if there was ST dep in V1-V4)
What lead is used to see a Right Ventricular Infarction?
What will it show when RVI is present?
V4R; you will see ST elevation if present
place a lead where V4 is on the left but do it on the right side; hints the V4+R
What triad is a sign of Right Ventricular Infarction?
- JVD
- Hypotension either before or after Nitro is given (a
RVI pt can be normotensive b/c of compensatory
factors in vasoconstriction) - Clear Lung sounds (ruling out pulmonary possibilities
for JVD)
Why is nitro not always ok to give a pt with chest pain?
First you must rule out possible Right Ventricular Infarction (RVI) b/c nitro can cause a severe drop in blood pressure.
It undoes the bodies compensatory mechanism of vasoconstriction to fight the RVI, so you could very quickly undo that compensation and since the RV is responsible for major preload of LV it will cause a quick drop in cardiac output that could tank your pt
Before giving any nitrate or vasoactive drug what should you do?
Check lung sounds!
You should give large amounts of isotonic fluids to an MI pt, so make sure to regularly assess lung sounds to make sure fluids is not leaking into the pulmonary space