Interpreting EKGs Flashcards
How does the his bundle/purkinje system divide?
Into left and right bundle branches
Left into anterior and posterior fascicles
Left supplied by LAD
What is the SA node?
In upper right atrium
Intrinsic rate of depolarization is 60-100 bpm
What does each waveform on the EKG correspond to?
P wave - atrial depolarization, impulse went from SA to AV node
PR interval - how well the AV node is functioning
QRS - ventricular depolarization
T wave - ventricular repolarization
U wave - delayed repolarization seen in hypokalemia
What is the j point?
End of S wave
Important during stress testing
What are the important measurements to remember with the EKG paper?
Speed is 25mm/sec
Small boxes are 1mm, large are 5mm
Every small box is .04 sec, large is .2
10 mm vertically is 1mV
What are the different kinds of leads?
Limb leads (I, II, III, aVF, aVR, aVL) from frontal plane Pecordial leads (V1-V6) from vertical plane
How can you calculate heart rate from an EKG?
Divide 300 by the number of LARGE boxes between QRS complexes
If rate below 50 or rhythm irregular, count number of QRS complexes on one page and multiply by 6
What is the av nodes intrinsic rate?
40-60 bpm
What are the different forms of bradycardia?
Idioventricular rhythm
Junction all rhythm
Sinus bradycardia
Wandering atrial pacemaker
What is idioventricular rhythm?
Wide QRS complex without a p wave
Usually result of increased vagal tone forcing ventricles to take ove as pacemaker
What is junctional rhythm?
Diseased SA node forces junctional area (AV node) to take over pacemaking
No p waves due to simultaneous depolarization of A and V - but pacemaker high in junction could get inverted p wave, low in junction could get inverted p wave after QRS
What are possible causes of junctional rhythm?
Hypoxia, ischemia, digitalis toxicity, electrolyte abnormalities, and chronic lung disease
Why is the sinus bradycardia rate and what conditions is it seen in?
Less than 60
Can be normal in athletes
Also seen with diseased SA node, MI, or drug toxicity
What is a wandering atrial pacemaker?
3 different p wave morphologies
PR intervals can be changing
Rate of 60-100
Seen in young and healthy, esp athletes
What are the different tachycardias?
Multifocal atrial Sinus Paroxysmal supraventricular Atrial tach Atrial flutter Atrial fibrillation Ventricular tach Ventricular fibrillation
What is multifocal atrial tachycardia and where is it seen?
3 different p wave morphologies followed by QRS
rate greater than 100
Seen in older patients with chronic lung disease, coronary artery disease, CHF, and infection
What is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias?
Regular rhythm between 150-250
Involves reentrant pathway triggered by premature atrial contraction
Distinct p waves usually not seen because they’re combining with the t wave
What is atrial tachycardia?
Regular rhythm fast because of reentry pathway in atria at focus other than SA node
P wave is regular but different than in sinus rhythm
Usually 1:1 conduction to ventricles
What is one clue distinguishing between sinus tach and atrial tach?
With atrial tach, patients is usually normal and then this suddenly happens
Sinus tach is more chronic
What is atrial flutter?
Reentry pathway in atrium causes rate of integer fractions of 300
AV blocks some and conducts usually in 2:1 or 4:1 pattern
Ablation is potential cure
If HR is 150, suspect this with 2:1 block rather than sinus tach
Saw tooth pattern on EKG
What is atrial fibrillation?
Rhythm due to multiple reentrant pathways in atria causing irregular rate over 350
Irregularly irregular
AV node blocks most - rate is actually 60-140
Usually no p waves due to chaotic activity in atria
NO saw toothsome on EKG
What is v tach?
Regular rate of 120-220
Wide QRS since ventricle has to depolarize itself by reentry pathway
What is ectopy?
Irregular beats can occur if something takes over from SA node for a brief period of time
Either premature atrial contraction or premature ventricular, then resets to SA node and regular rhythm after brief pause
If doesn’t reset and PVC occurs at fixed rhythm –> “bigeminy”
What is sinus arrhythmia?
Variation of rhythm with respiration that is not clinically significant
What is normal axis, lefty axis deviation and right axis deviation?
Normal - -30 to 90 degrees
LAD - 90 degrees
What gives you the correct axis?
Lead that is isoelectric
Add or subtract 90 degrees based on whether or not lead I shows RAD
Where is normal axis positive?
Lead I and aVF
How do the leads clue you into any axis deviation?
QRS negative in lead I means RAD
QRS negative in lead II means LAD
QRS negative in both means extreme left or right deviation
What are some causes of right axis deviation?
Normal in infants and tall thin adults Right ventricular hypertrophy Chronic lung disease even w/o pulm HT anterolateral MI left posterior hemiblock PE WPW with left side accessory pathway Septal defects