ECG Flashcards
(49 cards)
Two methods to calculate heart rate
- 300/Large squares between R waves
- Count R waves in strip and multiply by 6
Definition of Bradycardia and the causes
< 60bpm
- Fitness
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypothermia
- Beta-blockers
- Digoxin
- Amiodarone
- MI
- Vasovagal syncope
Definition of Tachycardia and the causes
> 100bpm
- Hyperthyroidism
- Anaemia
- Fever
- Pregnancy
- Exercise
- Congestive cardiac failure
- AF
- PE
- MI
- Hypovolaemic shock
Definition of Sinus Rhythm
Normal rhythm where the electrical stimuli initiates at the sinoatrial node and leads to ventricular dpolarisation
- Normal sinus rhythm - 60-100, with p waves
- Sinus bradycardia - < 60, with p waves
- Sinus tachycardia - > 100, with p waves
What leads are positive and negative in normal, left and right axis deviation
- Normal Axis - QRS positive in lead I and aVF
- Left axis deviation - QRS positive in lead I, lead 2 is negative and aVF is negative
- Right axis deviation - QRS negative in lead I and positive in aVF
Causes of Left axis deviation
- LVH
- Left anterior fascicular block
- LBBB
- Inferior MI
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Causes of right axis deviation
- RVH
- Left posterior fascicular block
- RBBB
- Dextrocardia
- Lateral wall MI
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
What is a P wave, and what is P mitrale and P pulmonale
P wave is atrial depolarisation
- P mitrale - bifid P wave = left atrial enlargement
- P pulmonale - peaked P wave = right atrial enlargement
What causes increased amplitude of the QRS complex
Left ventricular hyprtrophy - increase R wave amplitude in left side leads (V4-6, I, aVL) and increased S wave amplitude in right side leads (II, aVR, V1-3)
If the QRS is greater than 120ms what may cause it?
Bundle Branch Blockages
- LBBB - WiLLiaM
- RBBB - MaRRoW
Causes of LBBB
- IHD
- AS
- HTN
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hyperkalaemia
- Digoxin
In which leads should the T wave be -ve and +ve
T waves can be inverted in V1,2 but should be +ve in V3-6
Causes of RBBB
- RVH
- PE
- IHD
- RHD
- Myocarditis
What is a U wave
- +ve deflection after T wave
- seen in low rates
- best seen in leads V2, V3
- Large = Hypo - K, Ca, Mg
- Inverted = MI, Cardiomyopathy
Cause of small or large or inverted T waves
T wave represents ventricular repolarisation
- Small = hypokalaemia
- Large = hyperkalaemia
- Inverted = MI, BBB, PE, ventricular hypertrophy
What are the types of AV blocks associated with prolonged PR interval >200ms
1) First degree AV block - prolonged PR interval
2) Second degree AV block
- Mobitz type 1 (Wecknebach) - progressive prolongation of PR interval culminating in a non-conducted P wave. Usually temporary.
Causes: Beta-blockers, Ca-channel blockers, Inferior MI, myocarditis - Mobitz type 2 - intermittent non-conducted P waves without progressive prolongation of the PR interval. Usually not temporary.
Causes: Beta-blockers, Ca-channel blockers, Anterior MI
3) Third degree AV block - no P waves are transmitted to ventricles. High risk of sudden death - need pacemaker.
causes: same as second degree heart block, which progresses
What causes reduced PR wave (<120ms)
Wolff-Parkinson-White (pre-excitation syndrome)
- Involves presnce of an accessory pathway connecting the atria and ventricles. Because this pathway isnt slowed at the AV node, there is a short PR interval
- On ECG –> Short PR interval, Delta wave (Slurred upstroke of QRS), widened QRS complex
What is a pathological Q wave
- Seen in leads V1-3
- Greater than 25% depth of QRS complex
- Greater than 2mm deep and wider than 40ms
Pathological Q waves indicate current or previous MI
Causes of poor R wave progression
- LVH
- Prior anterio-sepctal MI
- Inaccurate lead placement
Causes of ST elevation
- MI (STEMI)
- Pericarditis - widespread concave ST elevation associated with PR depression in multiple leads
- coronary vasospasm
- LBBB
Cause of ST depression
- Posterior MI
- Myocardial ischaemia in NSTEMI
- Digoxin - hockey stick depression
- Hypokalaemia
- RBBB
Causes of prolonged QT interval (QT>440 in men, >460 in women or QTc >500)
- Drugs (Antipsychotics, anti-arrhythmics, anti-depressants)
- Hypo - K, Mg, Ca
- MI
What condition is a long QT interval associated with
Torsades de Pointes
- It is characterized by rapid, irregular QRS complexes, which appear to be twisting around the ECG baseline. This arrhythmia may cease spontaneously or degenerate into ventricular fibrillation.
ECG charactristics of hypokalaemia
- Increased amplitude of P wavs
- prolongation of PR intrval
- T wave flattening or inversion
- ST depression
- Prominent U waves


















