Exam 1 - ECG Interpretation Flashcards by Madeleine Swindell

what can an ECG NOT tell you?

information on the mechanical activity of the heart - strength of contraction

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what can an ECG tell you?

info on chamber enlargement
info regarding electrolyte concentrations
info regarding myocardial hypoxia
info about pericardial effusion
info on conduction disturbances
info on heart rate & rhythm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

if a BIC pen is 150mm in length, and the paper speed is 25mm/sec, how many seconds does 1 pen length represent?

6 seconds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

if a BIC pen is 150mm in length, and the paper speed is 50mm/sec, how many seconds does 1 pen length represent?

3 seconds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

how big are small & little boxes on ECG strips?

little boxes: 1x1mm
big boxes: 5x5mm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is the x-axis & y-axis on an ECG?

x-axis: time in mm/sec
y-axis: amplitude in mm/mv

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal heart rate for adult cats?

160-240 bpm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal heart rate for adult dogs?

70-160 bpm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal heart rate for toy breeds?

less than or equal to 180 bpm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal heart rate for puppies?

less than or equal to 220 bpm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a commonly seen arrhythmia in dogs? what about cats?

dogs - sinus arrhythmia

cats - sinus tachycardia

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

at 25 mm/sec, how much time does 1 small box represent?

0.04 seconds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

at 50 mm/sec, how much time does 1 small box represent?

0.02 seconds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal P wave interval in seconds for both dogs & cats?

less than or equal to 0.04 seconds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal QRS interval for dogs <20kg? dogs over 20 kg? giant breeds?

< 20 kg: less than or equal to 0.05s

> 20 kg: less than or equal to 0.06s

giant breeds: less than or equal to 0.065s

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is a normal QRS interval in cats?

less than or equal to 0.04s

at 10mm/mv (standard), how many mv does 1 small box represent?

0.1mv

what is a normal p wave amplitude in dogs & cats?

dogs: less than or equal to 0.4mv

cats: less than or equal to 0.2mv

what is a normal r wave amplitude in cats?

less than or equal to 0.9mv

what is a normal r wave amplitude for dogs <20kg? dogs over 20kg?

< 20 kg: less than or equal to 2.5mv

> 20 kg: less than or equal to 3.0mv

what p wave duration meets the criteria for left atrial enlargement in both dogs & cats?

greater than 0.04 seconds

what p wave amplitude meets the criteria for right atrial enlargement in dogs & cats?

dogs: greater than 0.4mv

cats: greater than 0.2mv

what r wave amplitude in lead II meets the criteria for left ventricular enlargement in dogs & cats?

dogs <20kg: greater than 2.5mv

dogs >20kg: greater than 3.0mv

cats: > 0.9mv

what are 4 criteria that support enlargement of the right ventricle seen on ecg?

s wave in lead I, II, & III
MEA to RV** only criteria for cats
s wave in lead III > lead II > lead I
s wave > r wave in lead II or s wave is > 0.7mv

how is an instantaneous heart rate calculated from an ECG?

of boxes from r wave to r wave - multiply by the time (either 0.04 seconds or 0.02 seconds) 60 seconds/^^ = instantaneous heart rate

what is the paper speed for horse ecgs?

12.5mm/sec, sensitivity 10mm/mv 0.08 sec/mm

what is this & what is it associated with? how can you minimize or resolve it?

artifact - electrical interference, will not have an associated repolarization (if it mimics a QRS, won't have a t wave) unplugging, use a grounded outlet, keep patient on an insulated surface, & ensure good electrode contact on skin

how can multiple leads help differentiate artifact from pathology on ecg?

artifact often won't occur in 2 of 3 leads

what must you rule out if suspecting artifact on an ecg?

ectopic p waves & QRS complexes

what are ectopic complexes? what are their possible origins?

heart beats that don't arise from the SA node supraventricular or ventricular

how can you tell the difference between SVPB & VPCs using morphology?

VPCs - usually wide & bizarre QRS, if in lead II & negative, LV origin, if in lead II & positive, RV origin, p waves not associated because they may be buried or superimposed on other parts SVPB - normal/narrow QRS & mostly positive complex in lead II, P WAVES ARE ABSENT

what is this?

ventricular premature complex - wide & bizarre QRS

what is this?

PSVB - QRS is similar to sinus QRS morphology

what are the hallmarks of afib seen on an ecg of a dog?

1. irregular 2. irregular 3. irregular 4. usually narrow 5. usually fast 6. no identifiable p waves

what are the most likely etiologies of atrial fibrillation in dogs?

1. idiopathic or lone - not associated with structural heart disease 2. DCM 3. MMVD 4. HCM 5. hyperkalemia 6. hemangiosarcoma

what is a fib?

no coordinated atrial contraction

what arrhythmia is seen here?

atrial fibrillation