EKGs Flashcards
Features of an EKG – in order of what to read in
- Heart rate
- P wave
- Origin of the rhythm
- PR interval
- QRS duration
- QT interval
- QRS axis
- QRS voltage
- Precordial R wave progression
- Abnormal Q waves
- ST segment
- T wave
- U wave
- Electronic pacemaker
EKG rates – Large boxes order
300 150 100 75 60 50 43 37 33
BPM = 300/# of large boxes
EKG rate for tachycardias – Small boxes order counting down from 300
300 250 214 188 167 150
BPM = 1500/# of small boxes
Normal P wave duration?
P wave separates into 1st and 2nd halves, corresponding into right and left atrial activation (respectively).
0.08-0.11 seconds
Normal P wave axis
0-75 degrees
Normal P wave morphology:
Upright in which leads?
upright or biphasic which leads?
Upright in leads: I, II, aVF
Upright or Biphasic: III, aVL, V1, V2
P:QRS Relationships
P:QRS < 1 Differential?
P:QRS < 1: Junctional or ventricular premature complexes or rhythms (escape, accelerated, tachycardia)
P:QRS Relationships
P:QRS = 1 Differential if the P wave precedes QRS?
P wave precedes QRS
Sinus rhythm; ectopic atrial rhythm;
multifocal atrial tachycardia; wandering atrial pacemaker; SVT (sinus node reentry tachycardia, automatic atrial tachycardia); sinoatrial exit block, 2o; conducted APCs with any of the above
P:QRS Relationships
P:QRS = 1 Differential if the P wave follows QRS?
P wave follows QRS:
SVT (AV nodal reentry tachycardia, orthodromic SVT); junctional / ventricular
P:QRS Relationships
Differential if there are no P waves?
No P Waves:
Atrial fibrillation; atrial flutter; sinus arrest with
junctional or ventricular escape rhythm; SVT (AV nodal reentry tachycardia, AV reentry tachycardia), junctional tachycardia or VT with P wave buried in QRS; VF
Heart Rate < 100 bpm Narrow QRS (< 0.12 sec) - Regular R-R 1. Sinus P; rate 60-100? 2. Sinus P; rate < 60? 3. Nonsinus P; PR
- Sinus rhythm
- Sinus bradycardia
- Ectopic atrial rhythm
- Junctional or low atrial rhythm
- Atrial flutter, usually with 4:1 AV block
- Junctional rhythm
- Accelerated junctional rhythm
Heart Rate 0.16 seconds?
- Sinus and nonsinus P?
- Any regular rhythm with 2o/ 3o AV block or premature beats
- Fine or coarse baseline oscillations?
- Sawtooth flutter waves?
- P:QRS ratio > 1?
- P:QRS ratio
- Sinus arrhythmia
- Wandering atrial pacemaker
- 2nd or 3rd deg AV Block or premature beats
- Atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response
- Atrial flutter, usually with variable AV block
- 2o or 3o AV block or blocked APCs
- Junctional or ventricular premature beats or escape rhythm
Heart Rate < 100 bpm Wide QRS (> or = to 0.12 seconds) 1. Sinus or nonsinus P? 2. No P; rate < 60? 3. No P; rate 60-100?
- Any supraventricular rhythm with a preexisting IVCD (e.g. bundle branch block) or aberrancy
- Idioventricular rhythm
- Accelerated idioventricular rhythm AV dissociation may be present
Heart Rate > 100 BPM Narrow QRS (< 0.12 sec) - Regular R-R 1. Sinus P? 2. Flutter waves? 3. No P? 4. Short R-P (R-P < 50% of R-R interval)? 5. Long R-P (R-P > 50% of R-R interval)?
- Sinus tachycardia
- Atrial flutter
- AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), junctional tachycardia
- AVNRT, orthodromic SVT (AVRT), atrial tachycardia with 1o AV block, junctional tachycardia with 1:1 retrograde atrial activation
- Atrial tachycardia, sinus node reentrant tachycardia, atypical AVNRT, orthodromic SVT with prolonged V-A conduction
Heart Rate > 100 BPM Narrow QRS - Irregular R-R 1. Nonsinus P; > 3 morphologies? 2. Fine or coarse baseline oscillations? 3. Flutter waves? 4. Any regular rhythm with 2o/3o AV block or premature beats
- Multifocal atrial tachycardia
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- 2o/3o AV block or premature beats