Electrocardiography Flashcards
What is the clinical relevance of the ECG?
Conduction abnormalities
Structural abnormalities
Perfusion abnormalities
What are the advantages of ECGs?
Relatively cheap and easy to undertake
Reproducible between people & centres
Quick turnaround on results/report
What is a vector?
‘a quantity that has both magnitude and direction’
What happens if the wave of excitation travels toward the negative electrode?
Downward deflections are towards the anode (-)
What happens if the wave of excitation travels toward the positive electrode?
Upward deflections are towards the cathode (+)
What does the isoelectric line represent?
represents no net change in voltage. i.e. vectors are perpendicular to the lead.
What does the steepness of the line relate to?
Steepness of line denotes the ‘velocity’ of action potential
What does the width of the line relate to?
Width of the deflection denotes the ‘duration’ of the event
What is the P wave?
The electrical signal that stimulates contraction of the atria (atrial systole)
What is the QRS complex?
The electrical signal that stimulates contraction of the ventricles (ventricular systole)
What is the T wave?
The electrical signal that signifies relaxation of the ventricles
What comprises the SAN?
Autorhythmic myocytes
Small amount of muscle that points more positive than negative
What does the action of the SAN show on an ECG?
Deflection is wide (slow)
Not very high (thin muscle)
Positive
What does the action of the AVN show on an ECG?
AVN depolarisation
Isoelectric ECG
Slow signal transduction
Protective
What does the action of the bundle branches show on an ECG?
Sharp but small downward spike
What does the action of the purkinje fibres show on an ECG?
QRS peak
and upward peak
Where do you place the leads?
Lead I (one L) Right Arm to Left Arm
Lead II (two L’s) Right Arm to Left Leg
Lead III (three L’s) Left Arm to Left Leg
What is the rule of reading for the leads?
English is read left to right and top to bottom.
Polarity does that too.
Drawn as a triangle and reading left to right and top to bottom the first electrode of each pair you reach is the anode (-ve
Where is the V1 electrode placed?
Right sternal border
In the 4th intercostal space
Where is the V2 electrode placed?
Left sternal border
In the 4th intercostal space
Where is the V3 electrode placed?
Halfway between V2 and V4
Where is the V4 electrode placed?
Mid-clavicular line
In the 5th intercostal space
Where is the V5 electrode placed?
Anterior axillary line
at the level of V4
Where is the V6 electrode placed?
Mid-axillary line
at the level of V4
What does each big square represent?
- 2s
0. 5mV
What does each little square represent?
- 04s
0. 1mV
What are the three main coronary arteris?
Left circumflex
Left anterior descending
Right coronary artery
What are normal values for R-R interval?
0.6-1.2 seconds
What is normal for the duration of the P wave?
80ms
What is normal for the P-R interval?
120-200ms
What is normal for duration of the QRS complex?
<120 ms
What is normal for duration of the T-wave?
420 ms
What is considered a normal heart rate?
60-100 bpm
What is the ECG reporting procedure?
Is it the correct recording?
Review the signal quality and leads?
Verify the voltage and paper speed?
Review the
What is the ECG reporting procedure?
Is it the correct recording?
Review the signal quality and leads?
Verify the voltage and paper speed?
Review the patient background if available
Can you defibrillate someone in asystole?
Not a shockable rhythm
What is sinus rhythm?
Each P-wave is followed by a QRS wave (1:1)
Rate is regular (even R-R intervals
What is sinus bradycardia?
Each P-wave is followed by a QRS wave (1:1)
Rate is regular (even R-R intervals) and slow (56 bpm)
Can be healthy, caused by medication or vagal stimulation