ECG made easy
Dr Omer Elgaili Yousif
Ass Prof Elneelain Universit…
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Interpreting the ECG
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Interpreting the ECG
Check
Name
DoB
Time and date
Indication e.g. “chest pain” or “routine pre-op”
Any previous or subsequent ECGs
Is it part of a serial ECG sequence? In which case it may be
numbered
Calibration
Rate
Rhythm
Axis
Elements of the tracing in each lead
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Calibration
Check that your ECG is calibrated correctly
Height
10mm = 1mV
Look for a reference pulse which should be the
rectangular looking wave somewhere near the
left of the paper. It should be 10mm (10 small
squares) tall
Paper speed
25mm/s
25 mm (25 small squares / 5 large squares)
equals one second
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Rate
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
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Rate
If the rhythm is irregular (see next slide on rhythm
to check whether your rhythm is regular or not) 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
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Rhythm
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
If they do line up, the rhythm is regular. If not, the rhythm is irregular
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Rhythm
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)
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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 (Bainbridge’s reflex) that leads to
sympathetic activation of the heart, hence it speeds up)
This physiological phenomenon is more apparent in children and
young adults
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Rhythm
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
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Axis
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
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Axis An axis falling
outside the normal
range can be left
axis deviation
or extreme
axis
deviation
A normal axis
can lie
anywhere
between -30
and +90
right axis
deviation degrees
or +120
degrees
according to
some
Axis deviation - Causes
Wolff-Parkinson-White
syndrome can cause both Left
and Right axis
deviation
A useful mnemonic:
“RAD RALPH the LAD from
VILLA”
Left Axis Deviation
Right Axis Deviation
Ventricular tachycardia
Right ventricular hypertrophy Inferior MI
Anterolateral MI Left ventricular hypertrophy
Left Posterior Hemiblock Left Anterior hemiblock
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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 Sum of
depolarisation. right and
left waves
Which occurs first? right atrial depolarisation
Right atrial depolarisation left atrial depolarisation
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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
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The P wave
Height
A tall P wave (over
2.5mm) can be called P
pulmonale
Occurs due to R atrial
hypertrophy normal P pulmonale
Causes include: >2.5mm
pulmonary hypertension,
pulmonary stenosis
tricuspid stenosis
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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 normal P mitrale
hypertrophy and delayed
left atrial depolarisation
Causes include:
Mitral valve disease
LVH
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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)
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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)
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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 Wolff-Parkinson-White
syndrome where the accessory pathway is
called the bundle of Kent. See next slide for an
animation to explain this
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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 Until rapid depolarisation
does not travel in the high speed conduction resumes via the normal
pathway, the spread of depolarisation across the pathway and a more normal
ventricle is slow, causing a slow rising delta wave 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
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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
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The PR interval
If there is no discernable relationship
between the P waves and the QRS
complexes, then 3rd degree heart block is
present
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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
PRtype
is constant
2 then a QRS is dropped
3rd degree
No discernable relationship between p waves and QRS
complexes
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The Q wave
Are there any pathological Q
waves?
A Q wave can be pathological Normal if in
if it is: I,II,III,aVL,V5-6
Deeper than 2 small squares
(0.2mV)
and/or Pathological
Wider than 1 small square anywhere
(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
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The QRS height
If the complexes in the chest leads look
very tall, consider left ventricular
hypertrophy (LVH)
If the depth of the S wave1 inadded
V1 to
the height of the R wave6 in V6 to
comes
more than 35mm, LVH is present
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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)
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LBBB
If left bundle branch block
is present, the QRS
complex may look like a
‘W’ in V1 1
and/or an ‘M’6.
shape in V6.
New onset LBBB with
chest pain consider
Myocardial infarction
Not possible to interpret
the ST segment.
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RBBB
It is also called RSR
pattern
If right bundle branch
block is present, there
may be an ‘M’ in V1
and/or a ‘W’ in V6.
Can occur in healthy
people with normal QRS
width – partial RBBB
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QRS width
It is useful to look at leads V1 1 and V6
LBBB and RBBB can be remembered by the
mnemonic:
WiLLiaM MaRRoW
Bundle branch block is caused either by
infarction or fibrosis (related to the ageing
process)
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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
Prinzmetal’s (vasospastic) angina
Planar ST depression can represent ischaemia
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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
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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 STĻ in V1
and V2
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Acute Anterior MI
ST elevation
c
Inferior MI
ST elevation
m
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
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Pericarditis
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The T wave
Are the T waves too tall?
No definite rule for height
T wave generally shouldn’t
be taller than half the size
of the preceding QRS
Causes:
Hyperkalaemia
Acute myocardial
infarction
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The T wave
If the T wave is flat, it may indicate
hypokalaemia
If the T wave is inverted it may indicate
ischaemia
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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)
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The QT interval
The normal range for QTc is 0.38-0.42
A short QTc may indicate hypercalcaemia
A long QTc has many causes
Long QTc increases the risk of developing
an arrhythmia
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The U wave
U waves occur after the T wave and are
often difficult to see
They are thought to be due to
repolarisation of the atrial septum
Prominent U waves can be a sign of
hypokalaemia, hyperthyroidism
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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
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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
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Atrial Fibrillation
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Atrial flutter
There is a saw-tooth baseline which rises above and
dips below the isoelectric line.
Atrial rate 250/min
This is created by circular circuits of depolarisation
set up in the atria
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Ventricular Tachycardia
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Ventricular Tachycardia
QRS complexes are wide and irregular in shape
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
Need to differentiate with supraventricular tachycardia
with aberrant conduction
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Ventricular Fibrillation
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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
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Elements of the tracing
P wave ST segment
Magnitude and shape, Should be isoelectric
e.g. P pulmonale, P mitrale
T wave
PR interval (start of P to start of QRS) Magnitude and direction
Normal 3-5 small squares,
0.12-0.2s
QT interval(Start QRS to end of T)
Pathological Q waves? Normally < 2 big squares or
0.4s at 60bpm
Corrected to 60bpm
QRS complex
(QTc) = QT/√RRinterval
Magnitude, duration and
shape
≤ 3 small squares or 0.12s
duration
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Further work
Check out the various quizzes / games
available on the Imperial Intranet
Get doctors on the wards to run through a
patient’s ECG with you
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