ABG and ECG Tutorial Drama Flashcards
What is an ECG?
Sticky pads placed on a person, on their chest - detects the electrical activity of the heart from different planes / angles
The leads measure the direction of the electrical activity
ECG ‘deflections’ = differences in electrical potential between a cathode (+ve) and anode (-ve)
What are the advantages and limitations of ECGs?
Advantages = Cheap Pain free Quick Reproducible
Limitations =
Interpretations require skill
Need to be aware of the anatomical positioning of the heart
What is an isoelectric line?
No net change rather than no change
i.e. perpendicular line to place
What does the steepness and width of a deflection suggest?
Steepness = velocity Width = duration
What are the letters on wave?
P
QRS
T
What is the P wave?
Depolarisation from the right atrium, across to the left - SAN to AVN
Cardiac contraction initiated by the SAN
Should be <3 squares wide
Always inverted in aVR
What is the PR interval?
Depolarisation reaches AVN
Delay here to allow for ventricular filling
Slow signal with long duration - 3-5 small squares
What is the QRS complex?
Ventricular contraction
What is the Q wave?
Depolarisation continues down AVN, Depolarisation of septum
Downward deflection
What is the R wave?
Depolarisation of the ventricles
What is the S wave?
Final depolarisation of the ventricles
What is the ST segment?
Period between ventricular replorisation and depolarisation
What is the T wave?
Ventricular repolarisation
Should be <1 big square in limb leads, <2 in chest leads
What are the horizontal and vertical axis?
Horizontal = time Vertical = amplitude
Where are the electrodes V1-V6 placed?
V1 = 4th intercostal space at the right sternal edge V2 = 4th intercostal space at left border of the sternum V3 = Midway between V2 and V4 V4 = 5th intercostal space at midclavicular line V5 = Level with V4 at left anterior axillary line V6 = Level with V4-V5 at left midaxillary line
What are the aVR, aVL and aVF leads placed?
Ride Your Green bicycle
Red = Lead 1 = right arm to left arm Yellow = Lead II = right arm to left leg Green= Lead III = left arm to left leg
What is used to form the horizontal place?
V1-V6
What is the structures approach for looking at an ECG?
Check patient name and DOB
Check paper speed
Check signal quality - i.e. are the leads placed properly?
Check clinical contract of the ECG
Then check the ECG for the:
Rate
Rhythm
Axis
How is the rate calculated?
What does the rate indicate?
Count the number of r waves thoughtout the full durtaion of the rhythm strip of lead II, then multiply by 6 (for 60 seconds) to give bpm
OR 300/ number of large squares between the R waves (less used as rhythm is required ot be regular for this)
<60 = bradycardia >100 = tachycardia
What are the 3 types of rhythm?
Regular e.g. normal sinus rhythm
Regularly irregular e.g. heart block Mobitz Type II
Irregulrly irregular e.g. atrial fibrillation
What does sinus rhythm actually mean?
Default rhythm