Basic ECG Interpretation in the ED
Learning Objectives.
• Interpret a basic 12 lead ECG.
• Recognize common cardiac arrhythmia's
• Recognize STEMI’s and STEMI equivalents.
• Recognize myocardial ischemia.
• Recognize common heart blocks.
12 Lead ECG – Standard Position
4 Limb Leads
•Right Arm & Leg
•Left Arm and Leg
6 Chest Leads
•Placement from 4th
intercostal space to
the 5th intercostal
space laterally
12 Lead ECG
Posterior
Leads
• Useful in the diagnosis of posterior infarcts
• 3 extra leads on the posterior chest
• V7– 9
• V7 (left posterior axillary line)
• V8 (tip of scapula)
• V9 (left paraspinal region)
ECG
Interpretation
• Standard paper speed is 25
mm/sec
• 1 small square equals 0.04
seconds
• Rough estimation of heart rate
from rhythm strip
• 300 bpm divided by the
number of large squares
Components of the ECG
Complex
• P wave
• QRS Complex
• T wave
• PR Interval
• ST Segment
• QT Interval
P Wave
Atrial Contraction
• 2 -3 mm high
• 2 -3 small squares (duration)
• 0.06 – 0.12 seconds (duration)
PR Interval
Transit time from sinus node to the ventricles
• 3 – 5 small squares (duration)
• 0.012 – 0.20 seconds (duration)
QRS Complex
Ventricular depolarization / contraction
• 5 -30 mm height
• 1.5 – 2.5 square (duration)
• 0.06 – 0.10 seconds (duration)
QT Interval
• Distance from beginning of Q wave to the end of the T
wave
• Represents ventricular systole (activation and recovery)
• 9 – 11 small squares (duration)
• 350 – 450 ms (duration)
T Wave
Represents
ventricular
repolarization
T waves are
normally upright
in most leads
Exceptions
are aVR and
V1
Common
Cardiac
Arrhythmia's
Heart Rates
Normal Heart Rate (60 – 100 bpm)
Tachycardia (More than 100 bpm)
Bradycardia (Less than 60 bpm)
Sinus Rhythm
• Narrow complex, regular rhythm
• QRS complex follows every P wave
Sinus
Rhythm
Sinus Arrhythmia
• Narrow complex, irregular rhythm
• QRS complex follows every P wave
• Beat to beat variability of the QRS complex
from respiration
Sinus Arrhythmia
Atrial
Fibrillation
• Arrhythmia characterized by irregular beating of the atrial
chambers of the heart
• Irregularly irregular rhythm
• No discernable P wave activity
• Can present with rapid ventricular response or a controlled
ventricular response
Atrial
Fibrillation
(Disorganized
Atrial Activity)
Atrial
Fibrillation
Rapid
Ventricular
Response
Atrial
Fibrillation
Controlled
Response
Atrial Flutter
• Re-entry circuit within the right atrium
• Regularly regular rhythm
• No discernable P wave activity
• Presence of flutter waves (saw tooth pattern waves)
Atrial Flutter
Atrial Flutter
AVNRT
• AV Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardia
(commonly known as SVT)
• SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)
• Functional re-entry circuit within AV node
• Regular narrow complex tachycardia (140 –
280 bpm)
AVNRT
Ventricular
Tachycardia
• Rapid tachycardia arising from the ventricles
• Regular broad complex tachycardia
• Rate is greater than 120 bpm
• More than 3 wide QRS complexes in a row
• 2 types
• Monomorphic (same amplitude)
• Polymorphic (variable amplitude – also known as
“torsade's de pointes”)
Monomorphic
VT
Common Causes
• Ischemic Heart Disease
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Monomorphic
VT
Polymorphic VT
Common Causes
• Ischemia
• Drugs
• Prolongation of the QT Interval
• Electrolyte Disturbance (Hypokalemia)
Polymorphic
VT
Ventricular
Fibrillation
• Chaotic irregular
deflections of variable
amplitude
• No identifiable P waves,
QRS complexes or T
waves
• Rate variable between
150 – 500 per minute
• Amplitude decreases
with time (coarse to fine)
Ventricular Fibrillation
STEMI’s and STEMI Equivalents
How to measure ST Elevation & Depression
ST elevation and depression is measured from the J point.
This is the junction of the QRS complex and the ST segment.
Elevation or depression is measured from this point to the baseline.
ST Elevation
& Depression
Characteristics – Ischemic ST Elevation
Anterior
STEMI (V3-4
ST Elevation)
Inferior STEMI (II,III,aVF - ST Elevation)
Lateral STEMI (I,aVL,V5-6 - ST Elevation)
Posterior STEMI (ST Depression & Upright T Waves V1-3)
Posterior STEMI (Posterior V7-9 - ST Elevation)
De Winters Waves
• Anterior STEMI equivalent
• Associated with LAD occlusion
• Prominent symmetrical T waves in
precordial leads
• Upsloping ST depression in the
precordial leads
De Winters Waves
Wellen’s
Syndrome
• Biphasic or deeply inverted T waves in V2-3 with a history
of recent chest pain that has resolved.
• Highly specific for critical stenosis for the LAD (left anterior
descending artery).
Wellen’s Syndrome
Sgarbossa
Criteria
(Original)
• Allows diagnosis of infarction in presence of LBBB or paced
rhythm
• Concordant ST elevation > 1 mm in leads with positive QRS
complex (score of 5)
• Concordant ST depression > 1 mm in leads V1-3 (score of 3)
• Excessive discordant ST elevation in 1 lead as defined as
more than 5 mm in leads with negative QRS complex (score
of 2)
• Score > 3 (Sensitivity 36%, Specificity 90%)
• Use internet to check the criteria as difficult to remember
Sgarbossa
Criteria
(Original)
ST
Depression
(Ischemia)
ST Depression – Ischemia (V4-6)
ST Depression – Ischemia (II,III,aVF, V4-6)
Benign Early
Repolarization
• Normal variant, usually seen in younger patients
• ST segment elevation – elevated J point
• Notch at the end of the QRS complex
• ST segment is concave up
• Absence of reciprocal ST segment changes
Benign Early
Repolarization
Pericardial
Effusion
• Sinus tachycardia
• Low voltage
• Electrical alternans
• Alternating QRS complex height
• Heart swinging back and forward in fluid filled
pericardium
• Best seen in lateral leads (I, aVL, V4-6)
Low Voltage
(Electrical
impulses do not
travel through
fluid well)
Pericardial Effusion
Left
Ventricular
Hypertrophy
• Must have voltage and non-voltage criteria
• Voltage Criteria
• Sokolov – Lyon Criteria
• S wave depth in V1 and R wave height in V5 or 6
greater than 35 mm
• Non-voltage Criteria
• ST depression and T wave inversion in left sided leads
(II, III, aVF, V5-6)
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Common Heart Blocks
Left Bundle Branch
Block (LBBB)
• Prolonged QRS complex (more than 120
mS)
• Dominant S wave in V1
• Broad notched R wave
Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB)
Right Bundle Branch
Block (RBBB)
• Prolonged QRS complex greater than 120
ms
• RSR pattern in V1-3 (M shaped pattern)
Right Bundle Block (RBBB)
First Degree
Heart Block
• Delay without interruption in conduction from atria to
ventricles
• Prolonged PR interval greater than 200 ms
• PR interval greater than 5 small squares
First Degree Heart Block
Second Degree
Heart Block
Mobitz 1
• Wenckebach Heart Block
• PR interval progressively increases
followed by a dropped QRS complex
Second Degree Block – Mobitz 1
Second Degree
Heart Block
Mobitz 2
Mobitz 2
• PR interval is fixed, but there are dropped beats
• Clarify by the number of dropped beats (2:1, 3:1)
Second Degree Heart Block – Mobitz 2
Third Degree
Heart Block
• Complete Heart Block
• AV dissociation
• P waves and QRS complexes and completely unrelated
Third Degree Heart Block
Revision Questions
• Describe the findings on the following
ECG’s
• The answer will be shown on the slide
following the ECG
ECG Number 1
• Irregularly Irregular Rhythm
• Narrow Complex Tachycardia (Rate – approximately 150 bpm)
• No P wave activity seen
• Diagnosis - Atrial Fibrillation
ECG Number 2
• P waves and QRS complexes with no relation between them
• AV dissociation
• Diagnosis - Complete (3rd Degree) Heart Block
ECG Number 3
• ST Elevation - Leads II, III, aVF
• Reciprocal ST Depression – Leads V1-2, 1, aVL
• Diagnosis - Inferior STEMI
ECG Number 4
• Chaotic irregular disorganized rhythm
• No P wave or QRS activity
• Diagnosis – Ventricular Fibrillation

Basic ECG Interpretation.pptx