Basic 12 lead EKG Flashcards
(72 cards)
How many leads are in a 12 Lead ECG?
12 Lead is actually 10 leads: 4 Limb and 6 Chest.
What areas do V1 and V2 represent on the ECG?
V1, V2 = RV
What areas do V3 and V4 represent on the ECG?
V3, V4 = septum
What areas do V5 and V6 represent on the ECG?
V5, V6 = L side of the heart
What does Lead I represent on the ECG?
Lead I = L side of the heart
What does Lead II represent on the ECG?
Lead II = inferior territory
What does Lead III represent on the ECG?
Lead III = inferior territory
What does aVF represent on the ECG?
aVF = inferior territory (remember ‘F’ for ‘feet’)
What does aVL represent on the ECG?
aVL = L side of the heart
What does aVR represent on the ECG?
aVR = R side of the heart
What does the P-wave represent in an ECG?
Atrial contraction
What does the PR interval represent in an ECG?
The time taken for excitation to spread from the Sino-atrial (SA) node across the atrium and down to the ventricular muscle via the bundle of His.
What does the QRS complex represent in an ECG?
Ventricular contraction
What does the ST segment represent in an ECG?
Ventricular relaxation
What does the T-wave represent in an ECG?
Ventricular repolarization
What are the first three steps in reading an ECG?
- Patient details
- Situation details
- Rate
- Rhythm
- Axis
- P-wave and P-R interval
- Q-wave and QRS complex
- ST segment
- QT interval
- T-wave
What information is included in patient details for an ECG?
- Patient’s name
- date of birth
- hospital number
- location
Why is the location of the patient important when reviewing ECGs?
It ensures that they can be moved to a higher dependency area if appropriate.
What details should be included in situation details for an ECG?
When the ECG was done, the time, ECG number if part of a series, and relevant clinical details such as:
If you are concerned that there are dynamic changes in an ECG it is helpful to ask for serial ECGs (usually three ECGs recorded 10 minutes apart) so they can be compared. These should always be labelled 1, 2 and 3.
* Did the patient have chest pain at the time?
* Or other relevant clinical details. For example, if you are wanted an ECG tolook for changes of hyperkaliemia, note the patient’s potassium level on
the ECG.
How can the rate be calculated on an ECG?
Count the number of QRSs on one line and multiply by six, or count the number of large squares between R waves and divide 300 by this number.
What is a more accurate way to report the rate in atrial fibrillation?
Report a rate range rather than a single value.
How can you assess rhythm on an ECG is ?
Determine if the rhythm is regular or irregular. If irregular, identify if it is regularly or irregularly irregular.
What is the ‘paper test’ for assessing rhythm on an ECG?
Place a piece of scrap paper over the ECG, mark a dot next to the top of a QRS complex, and slide the paper along the ECG. If the rhythm is regular, the dots will align with the tops of the QRS complexes.
What does the axis on an ECG represent?
The axis is the sum of all the electrical activity in the heart, with contraction traveling from the atria to the right and left ventricles.