THE
12 LEAD ECG
Dr. Mustafa Kamal Memon
12 LEAD ECG INTERPRETATION
By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the normal 12 lead ECG.
Identify the ECG changes that occur in the
presence of a heart disease.
Understand the value of ECG as a diagnostic and
prognostic tool.
WHAT IS A 12 LEAD ECG?
Records the electrical activity of the heart
(depolarization and repolarization of the
myocardium).
Views the surfaces of the heart from 12
different angles.
WHY DO A 12 LEAD ECG?
Monitor patients heart rate and rhythm.
Evaluate the effects of disease or injury on
heart function.
Detect presence of ischemia / infarction.
Evaluate response to medications, e.g. anti-
arrhythmic.
Obtain baseline recordings before during and
after surgical procedures.
ANATOMICAL POSITION
OF THE HEART
Lies in the mediastinum behind the sternum.
between the lungs, just above the diaphragm.
the apex (tip of the left ventricle) lies at the fifth
intercostal space, mid-clavicular line.
CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM OF HEART
© Heart beat originates in the
SA node.
© Impulse spreads to all parts
of the atria via internodal
pathways.
© ATRIAL contraction occurs.
© Impulse reaches the AV node
where it is delayed by
0.1second.
© Impulse is conducted rapidly
down the Bundle of His and
Purkinje Fibres.
© VENTRICULAR contraction
occurs.
ECG WAVEFORMS
Average cardiac axis normally is downward and
to the left, which means that the wave of
depolarization travels from the right atria
towards the left ventricle.
when an electrical impulse travels towards a
positive electrode, there will be a positive or
upward deflection on the ECG.
if the impulse travels away from the positive
electrode, a negative or downward deflection
will be seen.
WAVEFORMS AND INTERVALS
• The P wave represents atrial depolarization.
• The PR interval is the time from onset of atrial activation to
onset of ventricular activation (Atrial depolarization + AV nodal
delay).
• The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization.
• The S-T segment should be iso-electric, representing the
ventricles before repolarization.
• The T-wave represents ventricular repolarization.
WAVEFORMS AND INTERVALS
From the start of the P wave to the start
PR Interval:
of the QRS complex
0.12 - 0.20 sec
From the end of the P wave to the start
PR Segment:
of the QRS complex
From the start of the QRS complex to
QT Interval: the end of the T wave
(0.36 – 0.44 sec)
From the start to the end of the QRS
QRS Duration:
complex 0.08- 0.10 sec
From the end of the QRS complex to
ST Segment:
the start of the T wave
RECORDING AN ECG
LIMB LEADS CHEST LEADS
LIMB LEADS
3 Bipolar Leads
form (Einthovens Triangle)
Lead I - measures electrical potential
between right arm (-) and left arm
(+)
Lead II - measures electrical
potential
between right arm (-) and left leg (+)
Lead III - measures electrical
potential
between left arm (-) and left leg (+)
LIMB LEADS
3 Unipolar leads
avR - right arm (+)
avL - left arm (+)
avF - left foot (+)
note that right foot is a ground lead
THINK OF THE POSITIVE
ELECTRODE AS AN ‘EYE’…
THE POSITION OF THE
POSITIVE ELECTRODE ON
THE BODY DETERMINES
THE AREA OF THE HEART
‘SEEN’ BY THAT LEAD.
CHEST LEADS
6 Unipolar leads
Also known as precordial leads
V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6 - all positive
SUMMARY OF LEADS
Limb Leads Precordial
Leads
Bipolar I, II, III -
(standard limb leads)
Unipolar aVR, aVL, aVF V1-V6
(V leads) (augmented limb leads)
CALIBRATION OF ECG PAPER
THE STANDARD 12 LEAD ECG
6 Limb Leads 6 Chest Leads (Precordial leads)
avR, avL, avF, I, II, III V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6
Rhythm Strip
INTERPRETATION
OF ECG
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN
THE ECG?
1. Heart Rate
2. Rhythm
3. Axis
4. P-wave abnormalities
5. P-R Interval
6. QRS complex
7. ST segment
8. T wave abnormalities
9. U wave
10. Q-T Interval
HEART RATE
60 – 100 --- Normal Heart
rate
> 100 --- Tachycardia
< 60 --- Bradycardia
Calculated by:
1500
No. of small squares b/w R - R
DETERMINING THE HEART RATE
Take the number of “smallest boxes moved by the
machine per minute” i.e. (1500) , and divide by the
number of boxes between adjacent “R”-”R” waves.
H.R. = 1500 / # of squares b/w 2 “R - R” waves
RULE OF 1500
Take the number of “smallest boxes moved by the
machine per minute” i.e. (1500) , and divide by the
number of boxes between adjacent “R”-”R” waves.
H.R. = 1500 / # of squares b/w 2 “R - R”
waves
WHAT IS THE HEART RATE?
(1500 / 30) = 50 bpm
WHAT IS THE HEART RATE?
(1500 / ~18) = ~ 83 bpm
WHAT IS THE HEART RATE?
(1500 / 8) = 187 bpm
RHYTHM
Regular
Regularly Irregular
Irregularly irregular
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
No identifiable P waves, only an
irregular baseline.
Irregular, but normal shaped QRS
complexes.
Normal T waves.
SINUS RHYTHM
One P wave per QRS complex.
Normal P-R interval.
R-R interval varies with respiration
(less during inspiration and more
during expiration).
AXIS
Leads 1 and III or Leads I and AVF are
used.
If R wave is upwards in both leads, it
is normal axis.
If R wave is upwards in lead I and
downwards in AVF, it is left axis
deviation.
If R wave is downwards in lead I and
upwards in AVF, it is right axis
deviation.
Normal Axis Left Axis Right Axis
I I
III
III
III
P-R INTERVAL
Normal P-R Interval = 0.12 – 0.2 seconds
(3 – 5 small squares).
If P-R interval prolongs, it is first degree
heart block.
If P-R interval is short along with delta
waves, it is Wolff-Parkinson-White
syndrome.
If P-R interval gradually increases till a
ventricular beat is dropped, it is second
degree heart block (Mobitz type-I). Also
referred to as Wenckebach’s phenomenon.
HEART BLOCK (1st degree)
PR Interval = 0.04 x 9 small squares = 0.36 sec
WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE
SYNDROME
• Sinus Rhythm
• Short P-R interval
• Wide QRS complex
• Delta wave
• Right Axis deviation
THE QRS COMPLEX
Normal duration up to 0.1 sec
(less than 3 small squares).
Small Q waves are normal in
lateral leads (I, AVL, V5 and V6
(Septal Q waves).
THE QT INTERVAL
Normal duration from 0.36 sec to 0.44 sec
(9 - 11 small squares).
Prolonged in Hypocalcemia
Shortened in Hypercalcemia
ST SEGMENT
Iso-electric in normal people.
Elevated in Acute Myocardial
Infarction or Pericarditis.
Depressed in Coronary
Ischemia (Angina) and
Digoxin toxicity.
ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION
ST SEGMENT DEPRESSION
Can be characterised as:-
Downsloping
Upsloping
Horizontal
HORIZONTAL ST SEGMENT
DEPRESSION
Myocardial Ischaemia:
Stable angina - occurs on exertion,
resolves with rest and/or GTN
Unstable angina - can develop during
rest.
Non ST elevation MI - usually quite deep,
can be associated with deep T wave
inversion.
Reciprocal horizontal depression can
occur during AMI.
HORIZONTAL ST DEPRESSION
ST SEGMENT DEPRESSION
Downsloping ST segment depression:-
Can be caused by digoxin.
Upward sloping ST segment depression:-
Normal during exercise.
T WAVES ABNORMALITIES
The T wave represents ventricular
repolarization.
Should be in the same direction as and
smaller than the QRS complex.
Hyperacute T waves occur with S-T segment
elevation in acute MI.
T wave inversion occurs during ischemia and
shortly after an MI.
Tall tented T waves indicate hyperkalaemia.
U WAVES
May be normal due
to hypertrophied
Papillary muscles
Hypokalemia
