Electrocardiogram

Hanan Fathy 2008

Pacemaker = sinoatrial node

Impulse travels across atria Reaches AV node Transmitted along interventricular septum in Bundle of His Bundle splits in two (right and left branches) Purkinje fibres

Overall direction of cardiac impulse

 An EKG is a method of measuring, displaying and recording the electrical activity of a heart

Electrical stimuli is amplified to create a rhythm strip by a machine that consistently produces representations of the hearts electrical activity

 Bipolar Leads - leads have one positive and one negative Limb Leads - Leads I, II, and III Lead II is most common due to ability to visualize P wave
Lead I = left arm + and right arm Lead II = left leg + and right arm Lead III = left leg + and left arm -

 Augmented Limb Leads Leads aVR, aVL, aVF Utilizes the four limb leads Heart is the focal point Current flows from heart outward to extremities EKG machine must boost amplification due to positions of these leads

 Chest Leads Called precordial or vector [V] leads Look at horizontal or transverse plane Proper placement is important for correct interpretation Should be measured each time pads placed

 6 are chest electrodes

Called V1-6 or C1-6

4 are limb electrodes

Right arm Left arm Left leg Right leg Ride Your Green Bike

Remember
The right leg electrode is a neutral or dummy!

Precordial (chest) leads V1 Right bundle branch system V2 Right anterior surface V3 Right anterior septal surface V4 Left anterior surface V5 Left ventricle V6 Lateral surface

 ECG machines can run at 50 or 25 mm/sec. Major grid lines are 5 mm apart, at standard 25 mm/s, 5 mm corresponds to .20 seconds. Minor lines are 1 mm apart, at standard 25 mm/s, 1 mm corresponds to .04 seconds. Voltage is measured on vertical axis. Standard calibration is 0.1 mV per mm of deflection.

 Arrhythmia: Abnormal rhythm

Baseline: Flat, straight, isoelectric line

Waveform: Movement away from the baseline, up or down

Segment: A line between waveforms

Interval: A waveform plus a segment

Complex: Combination of several waveforms

 The excitation begins at the sinus (SA) node and spreads along the atrial walls The resultant electric vector is shown in yellow Cannot propagate across the boundary between atria and ventricle The projections on Leads I, II and III are all positive

Away from the electrode = negative deflection

Towards th electrode = positive deflection

Direction of impulse (axis)

Electrophysiology

Cardiac Current Flow

Cardiac Current Flow

 If the heart rate is regular

Count the number of large squares between R waves
i.e. the RR interval in large squares Rate = 300 RR e.g. RR = 4 large squares 300/4 = 75 beats per minute

If the rhythm is irregular it may be better to estimate the rate using the rhythm strip at the bottom of the ECG (usually lead II) The rhythm strip is usually 25cm long (250mm i.e. 10 seconds) If you count the number of R waves on that strip and multiple by 6 you will get the rate

Is the rhythm regular?

The easiest way to tell is to take a sheet of paper and line up one edge with the tips of the R waves on the rhythm strip. Mark off on the paper the positions of 3 or 4 R wave tips
Move the paper along the rhythm strip so that your first mark lines up with another R wave tip See if the subsequent R wave tips line up with the subsequent marks on your paper

Interpretation of ECG
Normal heart rhythm has consistent R-R interval. Mild variations due to breathing also normal.

Sinus Rhythm
Definition:Cardiac impulse originates from the sinus node. Every QRS must be preceded by a P wave. (This does not mean that every P wave must be followed by a QRS such as in 2nd degree heart block where some P waves are not followed by a QRS, however every QRS is preceded by a P wave and the rhythm originates in the sinus node, hence it is a sinus rhythm. It could be said that it is not a normal sinus rhythm)

Sinus arrhythmia
There is a change in heart rate depending on the phase of respiration

Q. If a person with sinus arrhythmia inspires, what happens to their heart rate?
A. The heart rate speeds up. This is because on inspiration there is a decrease in intrathoracic pressure, this leads to an increased venous return to the right atrium. Increased stretching of the right atrium sets off a brainstem reflex (Bainbridges reflex) that leads to sympathetic activation of the heart, hence it speeds up) This physiological phenomenon is more apparent in children and young adults

Sinus bradycardia Rhythm originates in the sinus node Rate of less than 60 beats per minute Sinus tachycardia Rhythm originates in the sinus node Rate of greater than 100 beats per minute

 Step 1: Are there P waves?

Step 2: Are there QRS

complexes?

Step 3: Are the P waves and QRS

complexes related?

Example 1
STEP 1.

Are there P waves?

Example 1 Continued
Are there P waves?
Yes, P waves are easily identifiable and regular in rate.

Example 1 Continued
STEP 2.

Are there QRS complexes?

Example 1 Continued
STEP 2.

Yes there are normal, narrow, QRS complexes.

Example 1 Continued
STEP 3

Are they related, 1:1?

Example 1 Continued
STEP 3

Are they related, 1:1?

Yes, there is one P wave for every QRS.

This is called a sinus rhythm

Example 2
Follow steps 1-3 as demonstrated in Ex. 1. This is also a sinus rhythm.

Note: The P waves are smaller, yet their regularity in

relation to the QRS complexes gives them away.

Example Three
Following the same steps, this one doesnt match up!?!?

Example 3 continued
Step 1
Are there P waves?
Yes,

Note: notice the dotted arrows indicate the location of P waves buried in the stronger electrical activity of the QRS complexes.

Example 3 Continued
STEP 2
Are there QRS complexes? Yes, there are normal, narrow QRS complexes.

Example 3 Continued
STEP 3.
Are they related?
NO, they are both regular in shape and rate, but there is no relation between them.

This shows a Complete Heart Block, also called a 3rd degree block. Can the Heart effectively pump blood if the Atria and Ventricles are not working together?

Supraventricular tachycardias
These are tachycardias where the impulse is initiated in the atria (sinoatrial node, atrial wall or atrioventricular node) If there is a normal conduction pathway when the impulse reaches the ventricles, a narrow QRS complex is formed, hence they are narrow complex tachycardias However if there is a conduction problem in the ventricles such as LBBB, then a broad QRS complex is formed. This would result in a form of broad complex tachycardia

Atrial Fibrillation
Features:
There maybe tachycardia The rhythm is usually irregularly irregular No P waves are discernible instead there is a shaky baseline
This is because there is no order to atrial depolarisation, different areas of atrium depolarise at will

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial flutter
Features:

There is a saw-tooth baseline which rises above and dips below the isoelectric line
This is created by circular circuits of depolarisation set up in the atria

NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM

Cardiac Rhythm: Supraventricular

Impuses originate at S-A node at normal rate

SINUS TACHYCARDIA
Impuses originate at S-A node at rapid rate

All complexes normal, evenly spaced Rate > 100/min

SINUS TACHYCARDIA
Impuses originate at S-A node at rapid rate

All complexes normal, rhythm is irregular

Cardiac Rhythm: Supraventricular

ATRIAL FLUTTER
Impulses travel in circular course in atria No interval between T and P

Rapid flutter waves, ventricular response irregular

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Impuses have chaotic, random pathways in atria

Baseline irregular, ventricular response irregular

Cardiac Rhythm: Ventricular

PREMATURE VENTRICULAR CONTRACTION
A single impulse originates at right ventricle

Time interval between normal R peaks is a multiple of R-R intervals

VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA
Impulse originate at ventricular pacemaker odd/wide QRS complex - often due to myocardial infarction

Wide ventricular complexes Rate> 120/min

Cardiac Rhythm: Ventricular

VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION
Chaotic ventricular depolarization ineffective at pumping blood death within minutes

Rapid, wide, irregular ventricular complexes

PACER RHYTHM
Impulses originate at transvenous pacemaker

Wide ventricular complexes preceded by pacemaker spike Rate is the pacer rhythm

Activation Sequence Disorders

A-V BLOCK, FIRST DEGREE Atrio-ventricular conduction lengthened

P-wave precedes each QRS-complex but PR-interval is > 0.2 s

A-V BLOCK, SECOND DEGREE Sudden dropped QRS-complex

Intermittently skipped ventricular beat

Bundle-branch Block
RIGHT BUNDLE-BRANCH BLOCK QRS duration greater than 0.12 s Wide S wave in leads I, V5 and V6

Ventricular Tachycardia
Usually secondary to infarction Circuits of depolarisation are set up in damaged myocardium This leads to recurrent early repolarisation of the ventricle leading to tachycardia As the rhythm originates in the ventricles, there is a broad QRS complex Hence it is one of the causes of a broad complex tachycardia (along with supraventricular tachycardia with

Ventricular fibrillation
Completely disordered ventricular depolarisation Not compatible with a cardiac output Results in a completely irregular trace consisting of broad QRS complexes of varying widths, heights and rates

Elements of the tracing

P wave
Magnitude and shape, e.g. P pulmonale, P mitrale

ST segment
Should be isoelectric

PR interval (start of P to start of QRS)

Normal 3-5 small squares, 0.120.2s

T wave
Magnitude and direction

QT interval (Start QRS to end of T) Pathological Q waves? QRS complex

Magnitude, duration and shape 3 small squares or 0.12s duration Normally < 2 big squares or 0.4s at 60bpm Corrected to 60bpm (QTc) = QT/RRinterval

Further work
Check out the various quizzes / games available on the Imperial Intranet
Get doctors on the wards to run through a patients ECG with you

Case Study of Beau

Beau is an 11 y/o 45 lb. Male Australian Shepard. Physical exam: see overhead
Beau presents with a moderate, chronic, nocturnal cough with mild dyspnea. Secondary exam also reveals a pounding irregular heartbeat and Grade 4 murmur.
Electrocardiogram was ordered in addition to other tests. Result:

Point of Origin Name

SA Node- Sinus rhythm
Causes regular, rounded P waves, and normal, narrow QRS complexes

Atria-Atrial rhythm
Causes irregularly shaped P waves, but still normal, narrow QRS complexes

AV Node-Junctional rhythm
Normal, narrow QRS complexes with no P waves

Perkinjie Fibers- Ventricular rhythm

No P waves, and irregular, wide QRS complexes

 The axis can be though of as the overall direction of the cardiac impulse or wave of depolarisation of the heart An abnormal axis (axis deviation) can give a clue to possible pathology

or extreme axis deviation

An axis falling outside the normal range can be left axis deviation

right axis deviation

A normal axis can lie anywhere between -30 and +90 degrees
or +120 degrees according to some

 Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can cause both Left and Right axis deviation
A useful mnemonic: RAD RALPH the LAD from VILLA Right Axis Deviation Right ventricular hypertrophy Anterolateral MI Left Posterior Hemiblock

Left Axis Deviation

Ventricular tachycardia Inferior MI Left ventricular hypertrophy Left Anterior hemiblock

The P wave

The P wave represents atrial depolarisation

It can be thought of as being made up of two separate waves due to right atrial depolarisation and left atrial depolarisation. Which occurs first? Right atrial depolarisation
Sum of right and left waves

right atrial depolarisation

left atrial depolarisation

The P wave
Dimensions
No hard and fast rules Height
a P wave over 2.5mm should arouse suspicion

Length
a P wave longer than 0.08s (2 small squares) should arouse suspicion

The P wave
Height A tall P wave (over 2.5mm) can be called P pulmonale
Occurs due to R atrial hypertrophy Causes include:
pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary stenosis tricuspid stenosis

normal

P pulmonale
>2.5mm

The P wave
Length A P wave with a length >0.08 seconds (2 small squares) and a bifid shape is called P mitrale It is caused by left atrial hypertrophy and delayed left atrial depolarisation Causes include:
Mitral valve disease normal LVH

P mitrale

The PR interval
The PR interval is measured between the start of the P wave to the start of the QRS complex

(therefore if there is a Q wave before the R wave the PR interval is measured from the start of the P wave to the start of the Q wave, not the start of the R wave)

The PR interval
The PR interval corresponds to the time period between depolarisation of the atria and ventricular depolarisation.
A normal PR interval is between 0.12 and 0.2 seconds ( 3-5 small squares)

The PR interval
If the PR interval is short (less than 3 small squares) it may signify that there is an accessory electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles, hence the ventricles depolarise early giving a short PR interval. One example of this is WolffParkinson-White syndrome where the accessory pathway is called the bundle of Kent.

Depolarisation begins at the SA node The wave of depolarisation spreads across the atria

It reaches the AV node and the accessory bundle

Conduction is delayed as usual by the in-built delay in the AV node However, the accessory bundle has no such delay and depolarisation begins early in the part of the ventricle served by the bundle As the depolarisation in this part of the ventricle does not travel in the high speed conduction pathway, the spread of depolarisation across the ventricle is slow, causing a slow rising delta wave Until rapid depolarisation resumes via the normal pathway and a more normal complex follows

The PR interval
If the PR interval is long (>5 small squares or 0.2s):
If there is a constant long PR interval 1st degree heart block is present First degree heart block is a longer than normal delay in conduction at the AV node

The PR interval
If the PR interval looks as though it is widening every beat and then a QRS complex is missing, there is 2nd degree heart block, Mobitz type I. The lengthening of the PR interval in subsequent beats is known as the Wenckebach phenomenon (remember (w)one, Wenckebach, widens)

If the PR interval is constant but then there is a missed QRS complex then there is 2nd degree heart block, Mobitz type II

The PR interval
If there is no discernable relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes, then 3rd degree heart block is present

Heart block (AV node block)

Summary 1st degree constant PR, >0.2 seconds 2nd degree type 1 (Wenckebach) PR widens over subsequent beats then a QRS is dropped 2nd degree type 2 PR is constant then a QRS is dropped 3rd degree No discernable relationship between p waves and QRS complexes

The Q wave
Are there any pathological Q waves?
A Q wave can be pathological if it is: Deeper than 2 small squares (0.2mV) and/or Wider than 1 small square (0.04s) and/or In a lead other than III or one of the leads that look at the heart from the left (I, II, aVL, V5 and V6) where small Qs (i.e. not meeting the criteria above) can be normal
Normal if in I,II,III,aVL,V5-6

Pathological anywhere

The QRS height

If the complexes in the chest leads look very tall, consider left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)

If the depth of the S wave in V1 added to the height of the R wave in V6 comes to more than 35mm, LVH is present

QRS width
The width of the QRS complex should be less than 0.12 seconds (3 small squares) Some texts say less than 0.10 seconds (2.5 small squares) If the QRS is wider than this, it suggests a ventricular conduction problem usually right or left bundle branch block (RBBB or LBBB)

QRS width
It is then useful to look at leads V1 and V6

If left bundle branch block is present, the QRS complex may look like a W in V1 and/or an M shape in V6 If right bundle branch block is present, there may be an M in V1 and/or a W in V6 This can be remembered by the mnemonic: WiLLiaM MaRRoW

QRS width
If LBBB is present, it is very difficult to interpret the following ST segment If there is new onset LBBB, it may represent an MI

Bundle branch block is caused either by infarction or fibrosis (related to the ageing process)

The ST segment
The ST segment should sit on the isoelectric line It is abnormal if there is planar (i.e. flat) elevation or depression of the ST segment Planar ST elevation can represent an MI or Prinzmetals (vasospastic) angina Planar ST depression can represent ischaemia

The ST segment
If the ST segment is elevated but slanted, it may not be significant
If there are raised ST segments in most of the leads, it may indicate pericarditis especially if the ST segments are saddle shaped. There can also be PR segment depression

Myocardial infarction
Within hours:
T wave may become peaked ST segment may begin to rise

Within 24 hours:
T wave inverts (may or may not persist) ST elevation begins to resolve If a left ventricular aneurysm forms, ST elevation may persist

Within a few days:

pathological Q waves can form and usually persist

Myocardial infarction
The leads affected determine the site of the infarct Inferior II, III, aVF Anteroseptal V1-V4 Anterolateral V4-V6, I, aVL Posterior Tall wide R and ST in V1 and V2

Acute Anterior MI

ST elevation

Inferior MI

ST elevation

The T wave
Are the T waves too tall?
No definite rule for height T wave generally shouldnt be taller than half the size of the preceding QRS
Causes:
Hyperkalaemia Acute myocardial infarction

The T wave
If the T wave is flat, it may indicate hypokalaemia If the T wave is inverted it may indicate ischaemia

The QT interval
The QT interval is measured from the start of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave. The QT interval varies with heart rate As the heart rate gets faster, the QT interval gets shorter It is possible to correct the QT interval with respect to rate by using the following formula:
QTc = QT/RR (QTc = corrected QT)

The QT interval
The normal range for QTc is 0.380.42 A short QTc may indicate hypercalcaemia A long QTc has many causes Long QTc increases the risk of developing an arrhythmia

The U wave
U waves occur after the T wave and are often difficult to see The are thought to be due to repolarisation of the atrial septum Prominent U waves can be a sign of hypokalaemia, hyperthyroidism

Case Study of Beau

EKG reveals a Sinus Arrhythmia,

Beaus heart is firing off Premature Atrial Contractions, PACs.

Potentially indicative of atrial enlargement, or other heart irritability, which may or may not be related to Beaus cough and current presentation.