EKG Stuff Flashcards
______ generate electrical impulses
myocytes
EKG leads measure electrical activity moving ______ the lead
toward the lead
P wave =
atria depolarizing
QRS complex =
ventricles depolarizing
Where is atrial repolarization seen on an EKG?
it is masked by the greater amplitude of the QRS complex
What does the ST segment give info about
ischemia
What condition shows ST elevations in all leeds
pericarditis
What allows for localization of findings on an EKG
the placement of different leads
define vector amplitude
the larger the deflection the closer you are to where that lead is providing information
What is this
Einthoven’s Triangle
What forms the X and Y axes of Einthoven’s triangle
the limb leads
Lead I: Right arm (neg) to Left arm (pos) measures laterally moving impulses
Leads 2 & 3: each arm to left leg measures inferiorly moving impulses (neg)
What do augmented leads do
reverses limb leads (I, II, III) polarity and combines them to create a hybrid lead between the contributing limb leads (adds another 3 divisions to get a total of 6 divisions 30 degrees apart)
What do chest leads (aka precordial leads) do
add a Z axis and further help localization
(surface leads are positive and AV node acts as the negative lead/anchor)
Describe reciprocal leads
What is positive from one perspective is negative from the other perspective (anterior vs posterior or left vs right)
what are the major components for interpreting any ECG
- rate
- rhythm
- axis
- hypertrophy
- ischemia/infarct
Define ischemia in cardiology
myocardium not receiving required oxygen supply
define infarct
myocardium has been starved of oxygen to such an extent that it is experiencing cellular death
How is ischemia displayed on ECG in the affected territory
ST depression (with reciprocal changes)
w/wo T wave inversion
ECG can change/normalize as ischemia progresses
How is infarct displayed in the affected territory
ST elevation (with reciprocal changes)
w/wo T wave inversion
Describe the underlying pathology for ischemia/infarct
abnormal oxygen supply causes abnormal ion pump/gate activity causes abnormal repolarization which shows up as an abnormal ST segment
- findings need to be present on 2 contiguous leads to qualify
What is shown here
ST depression - ischemia
ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs when the _____ ______ of myocardial wall loses perfusion
full thickness
What are Q waves and when do they develop
excessively wide or deep downward deflection at the beginning of a QRS complex
develop late in STEMI and are permanent (like a scar)
Describe stage B
hyperacute ST-T changes (first few mins)
elevated ST segment, upright T wave, no Q wave yet
Describe stage C
Marked ST elevation w/ hyperacute T changes
increasing ST elevation, upright T wave, no Q wave yet
Describe stage D
less ST elevation, biphasic T wave (minutes to hours)
Q waves may start to develop
Describe stage E
pathologic Q waves with T inversion (myocardial necrosis and fibrosis, recent MI within hours to weeks)
ST normalizes, T wave symmetrically inverted
What are the most common sites of infarcts
LV and septum (RV is rare)
What is this an example of
septal infarct
- ST elevation in aVR, V1-V3
- Q waves in V1-V2
- ST elevation and T inversion in III
- ST depression in I, II, aVL
What is this an example of
Anteroseptal infarct
What is this an example of
anterior infarct
- ST elevation in I, aVL, V2-V6
- Q waves V2-V4
What is this an example of
lateral infarct
- ST elevation in I, aVL, V5-V6
- Q waves in I, aVL
- ST depression in II, III, V1-V3 (reciprocal)
What is this an example of
anterolateral infarct
- ST elevation in I, aVL, V2-V6
- Q waves in V2-V6
what is this an example of
inferior infarct
- ST elevation in II, III, aVF, V4-V6
- Q waves in II, III, aVF
- ST depression in aVR, aVL, V1-V3
what should be on the differential for any new arrhythmia
ischemia
What are some ischemia imposters
- strain pattern
- juvenile T wave pattern
- j point elevation
- hyperkalemia
- pericarditis
What are the rates of the SA node, AV node, and ventricular focus
SA: 60-100 bpm
AV: 40-60 bpm
VF: 20-40 bpm
How many big boxes on an ECG is 1 second
5 big boxes, 1 little box = 0.2 seconds
What are some examples of rhythms/arrhythmias
Define automaticity
spontaneous gradual decline in transmembrane potential until threshold is reached causing sudden depolarization
Define refractoriness
lag period after depolarization when subsequent depolarization is impossible d/t inadequate transmembrane ion gradient
Which myocytes have automaticity?
All of them, therefore they can all act as a pacemaker
How is the timing of impulses governed
by refractory periods, as long as the heart beats rhythmically the refractory periods occur predictably and keep everything working regularly
What is this an example of
normal sinus rhythm (1 P for every QRS and vice versa)
What is this an example of
sinus arrhythmia
What is this an example of
wandering pacemaker
What is this an example of
atrial fibrillation
What is this an example of
atrial flutter
Describe premature/escape beats
- result from excess or pre-excited automaticity
- spontaneous = premature, after sinus pause = escape
how is an escape/ectopic rhythm generated
from repeat premature/escape beats that cause refractory periods to reset, resulting in a new primary pacemaker at an ectopic focus
What is this rhythm
sinus rhythm with atrial escape rhythm
what is this rhythm
PAC
What is this rhythm
junctional escape
What is this rhythm
ventricular escape
Describe an idiojunctional rhythm
40-60 bpm (slower than normal sinus rhythm), no P wave, normal QRS
Describe an idioventricular rhythm
20-40 bpm (way slower), no P wave, wide/bizarre QRS
What is an accelerated idio rhythm
an ectopic/idio rhythm that is sped up
What is this an example of
supraventricular tachycardia
- locked in around 150bpm, no rate variation with respiration
- T wave of one cycle may overlap P wave of next obscuring the P wave
- QRS complex is narrow
What is this an example of
ventricular tachycardia (can lead to ischemia if sustained d/t strain on heart, or progress to ventricular flutter)
Define bigeminy and trigeminy and quadrigeminy as it relates to ectopic beats
Bigeminy = 1 PVC every other beat
Trigeminy = 1 PVC every 3rd beat
Quadrigeminy = 1 PVC every 4th beat
When do PACs/PVCs become serious
- when PVC initiates during normal T wave and can cause V-fib or QT phenomenon
- when the ectopic rate is <40 bpm
- multifocal PVCs can progress to V-fib
What is this an example of
ventricular flutter (300 bpm, no effective perfusion, pre-Vfib/torsades)
What is this an example of
ventricular fibrillation (can progress to PAE and asystole)
What is this an example of
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) showing Delta wave
- trap door pathway - bundle of kent allows impulses to progress forward or back
- does not respond to cardioversion/meds well, requires ablation
describe bundle branch blocks
what is a characteristic finding on ECG for a RBBB or LBBB
bunny ears in V1 for RBBB or V6 for LBBB
what is this an example of
sinus block (1+ dropped cycle with baseline normal sinus rhythm)
What is this an exmaple of
1st degree AV block
- delayed impulse relay thru AV node, PR prolongation