Diagnostic Tests and Approach to ECG Flashcards
What are the lateral leads in an ECG
I, aVL, V5, V6
What are the inferior leads in an ECG
II, III, aVF
What are the anterior leads in an ECG
V1-V4
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Normal heart rate
60-100 bpm
Atrial rate in paroxysmal tachycardia
150-250 bpm
Atrial rate in atrial flutter
250-350 bpm
Atrial rate in atrial fibrillation
> 350 bpm
How do you calculate rate on an ECG with regular rhythm
to calculate the rate, divide 300 by number of large squares between 2 QRS complexes (there are 300
large squares in 1 min: 300 x 200 msec = 60 sec)
or remember 300-150-100-75-60-50-43
How do you calculate rate on an ECG with irregular rhythm
6 x number of R-R intervals in 10 s (the “rhythm strips” are 10 sec recordings)
Rate for atrial escape rhythm
60-80 bpm
Rate for junctional escape rhythm
40-60 bpm
Rate for ventricular escape rhythm
20-40 bpm
What is an example of a regularly irregular pattern
Atrial flutter
What are examples of an irregularly irregular pattern
Atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation
What are 3 things that must be satisfied to have normal sinus rhythm
- P wave precedes each QRS; QRS follows each P wave
- P wave axis is normal (positive in 2 out of the 3 following leads I, II, aVF)
- Rate between 60-100 bpm
What is considered normal axis, LAD, RAD?
normal axis: -30º to 90º (i.e. positive QRS in leads I and II)
Left axis deviation (LAD): axis 90º
Differential diagnosis for LAD
- Left anterior hemiblock
- Inferior MI
- WPW
- RV pacing
- Normal variant
- Elevated diaphragm
- Lead misplacement
- Endocardial cushion defect
Differential diagnosis for RAD
- RVH
- Left posterior hemiblock
- Pulmonary embolism
- COPD
- Lateral MI
- WPW
- Dextrocardia
- Septal defects
What are signs of complete LBBB on ECG
QRS duration >120 msec
Broad notched R waves in leads V4, and V5, and usually I, aVL
Deep broad S waves in leads V1-2
Secondary ST-T changes (-ve in leads with broad notched R waves, +ve in V1-2) are usually present
LBBB can mask ECG signs of MI
What are signs of complete RBBB on ECG
QRS duration >120 msec
Positive QRS in lead V1 (rSR’ or occasionally broad R wave)
Broad S waves in leads I, V5-6 (>40 msec)
Usually secondary T wave inversion in leads V1-2
Frontal axis determination using only the first 60 msec
What are signs on ECG of Left Anterior Fascicular Block (LAFB) (aka Left Anterior Hemiblock)
Left Axis Deviation (-30º to -90º)
- Small q and prominent R in leads I
and aVL - Small r and prominent S in leads II,
III, and aVF
What are signs on ECG of Left Posterior Fascicular Block (LPFB) (aka Left Posterior Hemiblock)
Right Axis Deviation (110º to 180º)
- Small r and prominent S in leads I and
aVL - Small q and prominent R in leads II, III,
and aVF
What are signs on ECG of bifascicular block
RBBB Pattern
- Small q and prominent R
- The first 60 msec (1.5 small squares) of the QRS shows the pattern of LAFB or LPFB
- Bifascicular block refers to impaired conduction in two of the three fascicles, most commonly a RBBB and left anterior hemiblock; the appearance on an ECG meets the criteria for both types of blocks
What are signs of ECG for a nonspecific intraventricular block
- QRS duration >120 msec
* absence of definitive criteria for LBBB or RBBB
What are signs on ECG for LVH
(S in V1) + (R in V5 or V6)
>35 mm above for age 40
>40 mm for age 31-40
>45 mm for age 21-30
R in aVL >11 mm
(R in I) + (S in III) >25 mm
Additional criteria
LV strain pattern (asymmetric ST depression and T wave
inversion in leads I, aVL, V4-V6)
Left atrial enlargement
N.B. The more criteria present, the more likely LVH is present.
If only one voltage criteria present, it is called minimal voltage criteria for LVH which could be a normal variant
What are signs on ECG for RVH
Right axis deviation
R/S ratio >1 or qR in lead V1
RV strain pattern: ST segment depression and T wave inversion in leads V1-2
What are signs on ECG for left atrial enlargement
Biphasic P wave with the negative terminal component of the P wave in lead V1 ≥1 mm wide and ≥1 mm deep
P wave >100 msec, could be notched in lead II (“P mitrale”)
What are signs on ECG for right atrial enlargement
P wave >2.5 mm in height in leads II, III, or aVF (“P pulmonale”)
What are signs on ECG for ischemia
■ ST segment depression
■ T wave inversion (most commonly in V1-V6)
What are signs on ECG for injury/infarct
■ transmural (involving the epicardium) - ST elevation in the leads facing the area injured/infarcted
■ subendocardial - marked ST depression in the leads facing the affected area
■ may be accompanied by enzyme changes and other signs of MI
STEMI ST elevation pattern
At least 1 mm in 2 adjacent limb leads or at least 1-2 mm in adjacent precordial leads (signifies complete occlusion and transmural ischemic injury)
Early pericarditis ST elevation pattern
Diffuse pattern in early pericarditis
Coronary artery spasm (ex. Prinzmetal angina) ST elevation pattern
Transient ST elevation in patients with coronary artery spasm (e.g. Prinzmetal angina) which can be slight or prominent (>10 mm)
What are the typical sequential changes of an evolving MI
- hyperacute T waves (tall, symmetric T waves) in the leads facing the infarcted area, with or without
ST elevation - ST elevation (injury pattern) in the leads facing the infarcted area
◆ usually in the first hours post infarct
◆ in acute posterior MI, there is ST depression in V1-V3 (reciprocal to ST elevation in the posterior leads, that are not recorded in the standard 12-lead ECG) - get a 15-lead ECG
3.significant Q waves: >40 msec or >1/3 of the total QRS and present in at least 2 consecutive leads in
the same territory (hours to days post-infarct)
◆ Q waves of infarction may appear in the very early stages, with or without ST changes
◆ non-Q wave infarction: there may be only ST or T changes despite clinical evidence of infarction
- inverted T waves (one day to weeks after infarction)
What are ECG signs of a completed infarction
■ abnormal Q waves (Q waves may be present in leads III and aVL in normal individuals due to initial septal depolarization)
■ duration >40 msec (>30 msec in aVF for inferior infarction)
■ Q/QRS voltage ratio is >33%
■ present in at least 2 consecutive leads in the same territory
■ abnormal R waves (R/S ratio >1, duration >40 msec) in V1 and occasionally in V2 are found in posterior infarction (usually in association with signs of inferior and/or lateral infarction)
What areas of the heart does the LAD supply
Anteroseptal
Anterior
Anterolateral
Extensive anterior
What areas of the heart does the Right coronary artery supply
Inferior
Posterior MI (assoc. with inf. MI)
Right ventricle
What areas of the heart does the left circumflex artery supply
Lateral
Isolated posterior MI
What leads are affected by an LAD infarct
V1, V2
V3, V4
I, aVL, V3-6
I, aVL, V1-6
What leads are affected by a right coronary artery infarct
II, III, aVF
V3R, V4R (right sided chest leads)
V1, V2 (prominent R waves)
What leads are affected by a left circumflex artery infarct
I, aVL, V5-6
V1, V2 (prominent R waves)
What ECG changes can be seen with hyperkalemia
■ mild to moderate (K+ 5-7 mmol/L):
tall peaked T waves
■ severe (K+>7 mmol/L):
progressive changes whereby P waves flatten and disappear, QRS widens and may show bizarre patterns, axis shifts left or right, ST shift with tall T waves, eventually becomes a “sine wave” pattern
What ECG changes can be seen with hypokalemia
■ ST segment depression, prolonged QT interval, low T waves, prominent U waves (U>T)
■ enhances the toxic effects of digitalis
What ECG changes can be seen with hypercalcemia
■ shortened QT interval (more extracellular Ca2+ means shorter plateau in cardiac action potential)
What ECG changes can be seen with hypocalcemia
■ prolonged QT interval (less extracellular Ca2+ means longer plateau in cardiac action potential)
What ECG changes can be seen with hypothermia
- sinus bradycardia
- when severe, prolonged QRS and QT intervals
- AFib with slow ventricular response and other atrial/ventricular dysrhythmias
- Osborne J waves: “hump-like” waves at the junction of the J point and the ST segment
What ECG changes can be seen in pericarditis
- early: diffuse ST segment elevation ± PR segment depression, upright T waves
- later: isoelectric ST segment, flat or inverted T waves
- ± tachycardia