This document provides an overview of basic ECG interpretation in the emergency department. It covers identifying common arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and heart blocks. It also reviews recognizing STEMIs by identifying ST segment elevation or depression in corresponding leads. For example, ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF indicates an inferior STEMI. The document describes components of the ECG like P waves, QRS complexes, and QT intervals. It includes examples of various arrhythmias and cardiac conditions like left ventricular hypertrophy, pericardial effusions, and bundle branch blocks.
Learning Objectives.
• Interpreta basic 12 lead ECG.
• Recognize common cardiac arrhythmia's
• Recognize STEMI’s and STEMI equivalents.
• Recognize myocardial ischemia.
• Recognize common heart blocks.
4.
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
6.
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)
8.
ECG
Interpretation
• Standard paperspeed 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
9.
Components of theECG
Complex
• P wave
• QRS Complex
• T wave
• PR Interval
• ST Segment
• QT Interval
QT Interval
• Distancefrom 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)
Atrial
Fibrillation
• Arrhythmia characterizedby 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 Flutter
• Re-entrycircuit within the right atrium
• Regularly regular rhythm
• No discernable P wave activity
• Presence of flutter waves (saw tooth pattern waves)
Ventricular
Tachycardia
• Rapid tachycardiaarising 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”)
How to measureST 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.
De Winters Waves
•Anterior STEMI equivalent
• Associated with LAD occlusion
• Prominent symmetrical T waves in
precordial leads
• Upsloping ST depression in the
precordial leads
Wellen’s
Syndrome
• Biphasic ordeeply 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).
Sgarbossa
Criteria
(Original)
• Allows diagnosisof 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
Benign Early
Repolarization
• Normalvariant, 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
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)
Left
Ventricular
Hypertrophy
• Must havevoltage 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)
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