Cardio: ECG Flashcards
What can an ECG tell you (9)?
1) Heart rate (atrial and ventricular)
2) Rhythm
3) Conduction pattern
4) Chamber enlargement (less than rads, echo)
5) Myocardial condition (inflammation, necrosis, epicardial dz)
6) Electrolyte abnormalities
7) Effusions (pericardial, pleural)
8) Drug toxicities or effects
9) Sympathetic or parasympathetic tone alterations
Reasons to perform an ECG (9)
1) Congenital heart disease in younger dogs
2) Valvular disease (Ex: Cavalier spaniel)
3) Myocardial disease (Ex: Dobermans)
4) Monitor drug therapy or suspected drug toxicity (Ex: digoxin, anti-arrhythmics)
5) Evalulate arrhythmias
6) Evaluate syncope or weakness
7) Pre-anesthetic or anesthetic monitoring
8) Electrolyte screening (Ex: post parathyroidectomy)
Four prep steps in performing an ECG
1) RIGHT lateral recumbency
2) Electrodes above the elbows and stifles
3) Alcohol to couple signals to electrodes
4) Light restraint
Sequence of electrical activation in the heart
1) Starts in the sinus node (SA) = pacemakers that initiate electrical impulses
2) ATRIAL DEPOLARIZATION
3) Impulse slowed by the AV node = specialized conduction tissue that separates the atria from ventricles
4) Conduct via the Bundle of His
5) Conduct via Purkinji fibers for VENTRICULAR DEPOLARIZATION
What does an ECG tell you (and not tell you) about the heart?
Only explains the ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY of the heart, says nothing about the mechanical functionality
What is the P wave?
Atrial depolarization
What is the QRS complex?
Ventricular depolarization
What is the T wave?
> Ventricular repolarization
- Can be negative or positive
What is the PR/PQ interval?
> AV nodal conduction
- Time needed for conduction from the the SA node through the AV node to the ventricular myocardium
What is the Q wave?
First negative deflection before a positive deflection
What is the R wave?
The first positive deflection in the QRS complex
What is the S wave?
Negative deflection after the positive deflection
What is the ST segment?
- Duration of phase 2 of the AP during repolarization
- No change in electrical charge = equal to baseline (PR) = isoelectric
What is the QT segment?
> Ventricular systole
- Time of ventricular depolarization and repolarization
Difference between paper speed on the ECG and writings?
- Quicker = things are farther apart
- Slower = things are written closer together
Which lead sees the largest QRS deflection?
Lead II = where we do our ECG measurements from
What is the calibration of the ECG?
> “Sensitivity” = 10 mm = 1 mV
- Usually increased with cats = 2x –> 1 mV = 1 cm
- Usually decreased with dogs = 1/2x –> 1 mV = 1/2 cm
How do you determine the HR from the ECG?
[Each box = 1 mm]
1) Count 25 or 50 mm (depending on speed) = equals one second
2) Count the number of QRS complexes for 3 seconds
3) Multiply those QRS complexes x 20s
Does size of the dog (animal) affect the HR on the ECG?
NO - all dogs should have similar heart rates
Normal heart rate for a dog
70-140 bpm
Normal heart rate for a cat
160-220 bpm
WHAT IS A SINUS RHYTHM?
Upright P waves, in lead II, at a rate the sinus node can fire
What is the mean electrical axis and what is normal for the MEA?
> Defines the orientation of the average wave of ventricular depolarization
- Normal = left (of the animal) and towards the feet
How do we calculate the mean electrical axis (MEA)?
1) Measure the positive boxes from baseline (PR) to the top of the QRS
2) Measure the negative boxes below baseline of the QRS
3) Add them together for your lead total (on each perpendicular lead)
4) Connect the point where the two leads intersect
5) Draw a line from the belly button to that point = MEA
Two reasons for right axis ECG deviation
1) Right ventricular enlargement
2) Conduction disturbance, particularly in the right bundle branch
Two reasons for left axis ECG deviation
1) Left ventricular enlargement
2) Conduction disturbance, particular in the left bundle branch