Title: EKG Basics 2
1EKG Basics 2
- That Squigglely Line -
- What Does It Really Mean ?
- Part 2
- David Arnall, Ph.D., P.T. (2000)
2The V Leads
- The Precordial Chest Leads Record The Hearts
Electrical Activity In The Transverse Or
Horizontal Plane.
3http//www.publicsafetynet.net/12lead_dx.htmelect
rode
4- To Create The Six Precordial Chest Leads, Each
Chest Lead Is Made Positive The Whole Body Is
Considered Negative.
5Lead Positioning
- V1 Is Placed In The Fourth Intercostal Space To
The Right Of The Sternum. - V2 Is Placed In The Fourth Intercostal Space To
The Left Of The Sternum.
6- V3 Is Placed In Between V2 And V4.
- V4 Is Placed In The Fifth Intercostal Space In
The Midclavicular Line Near The Nipple.
7- V5 Is Placed In Between V4 And V6.
- V6 Is Placed In The Fifth Intercostal Space In
The Midaxillary Line.
8http//endeavor.med.nyu.edu/courses/physiology/cou
rseware/ekg_pt1/EKGprecordial.html
9- When placing the precordial chest leads across
the thorax, the clinician places the electrodes
under the pectoralis major not over the breasts.
10- In The Chest Cavity, The Heart Is Positioned With
The Right Ventricle Lying Anteriorly Medially
While The Left Ventricle Lies Anterolaterally
Posteriorly
11- Therefore, Leads V1 V2 Lie Directly Over The
Right Ventricle. Their Line Of Sight Is To View
The Electrical Activity Coming From The Right
Ventricle.
12- Leads V3 V4 Lie Directly Over The
Interventricular Septum. Their Line Of Sight Is
To View The Electrical Activity Of The
Interventricular Septum.
13http//endeavor.med.nyu.edu/courses/physiology/cou
rseware/ekg_pt1/EKGprecolead.html
14- Leads V5 V6 Lie Over The Left Ventricle.
Therefore, These Leads View The Electrical
Activity Of The Left Ventricle.
15- The Precordial Chest Leads Can Be Divided Up Into
Areas Of The Heart They View.
16- Leads V1, V2, V3, V4 Are The Anterior Leads.
17- Leads V5 V6 Look At The Left Lateral Wall.
18In Review
- Anterior Chest Leads
- V1, V2, V3 V4
19- Left Lateral Wall Leads
- aVL, Lead I , V5 V6
20- Inferior Chest Leads
- Lead II, Lead III, Lead aVF
21 22- A Review Of The Waves
- Intervals Of The EKG
23(No Transcript)
24The P Wave
- The P Wave Is The Signal That Electrical
Potential Has Left The SA Node, Swept Across The
Atria, Has Initiated Atrial Contraction.
25What Is A Normal P Wave ?
- Duration The Normal Duration Of A P Wave is
2.0 - 2.5 mm (.04 - .1 sec) - If It Is Greater Than 2.75 mm (.11 sec) It Is
Considered To Be An Abnormal P Wave.
26http//www.ovcnet.uoguelph.ca/ClinStudies/Courses/
Public/Cardiology/Concepts/ECGConcepts13-16.htm
27- Amplitude
- A Normal Amplitude For A
- P Wave Is 2-3 mm.
28- The P Wave Should Always Be Gently Rounded -
Never Pointed Or Peaked.
29- Abnormal Amplitude Of The P Wave Is Often Seen In
Cor Pulmonale, A-V Valve Disease, Hypertension
In Patients With Congenital Heart Disease
30- P Waves Within The Same Lead That Are Multiformic
Indicate The Presence Of More Than One Pacemaker
In The Right Atrium.
31- In The Six Limb Leads, You Will Generally See P
Waves In The Upright Position Except In aVR V1
Where They Are Negatively Deflected.
32http//bioscience.org/images/normalh.gif
33- You Will Frequently See Biphasic P Waves In Lead
III, Lead V2 Occasionally In Lead aVL.
34BiPhasic P Wave In V1
35The PR Interval
- After The P Wave There Is A Silent Period Where
Nothing Is Happening In The EKG Tracing. This
Quiescent Period Is Called The PR Interval.
36- The PR Interval Is A Time Lag And Represents The
Period During Which There Is AV Nodal Capture Of
The SA Node Signal.
37- The PR Interval Allows The Atria To Contract
(atrial systole) Which Tops Off The Ventricles
With Blood - An Event Called Atrial Kick.
38- The PR Interval Is Measured From The Beginning Of
The P Wave To The Beginning Of The Q Wave Or The
Beginning Of The R Wave If The Q Wave Is Absent.
39(No Transcript)
40http//doyle.ibme.utoronto.ca/EKG/rhythm/EKGTUTORI
AL.htm
41- The PR Interval Represents The Time Period
Encompassing Atrial Depolarization Up To But Not
Including The Start Of Ventricular
Depolarization.
42- A major portion of the PR interval reflects the
slow conduction through the AV node which is
controlled by the sympathetic-parasympathetic
balance within the autonomic nervous system. - Marriotts Practical Electrocardiography, 9th
ed., Galen S. Wagner, pg 39, 1994
43- Duration The Adult PR Interval Is Normally
Between 3-5 mm Or .12 - .20 Seconds In Duration.
Some Cardiologists Will Say It Is Normal Out To
.22 Seconds (5 1/2 mm)
44- If The PR Interval Is Longer Than 5 mm, It Is
Called A Prolonged PR Interval May Indicate The
Presence Of An AV Block.
45First Degree AV Block
46- The PR Interval Shortens During Exercise Because
Of The Sympathetic Tone That Predominates Over
The Heart.
47- If The PR Interval Could Not Shorten, Along With
Other Segments In The EKG, Then Acceleration Of
Heart Rate During Exercise Would Be Difficult If
Not Impossible.
48- In Young Children, The PR Interval Is Shorter
Than In Adults. The Childs Heart Rate Is Also
Faster.
49- In A 1 Year Old Child At Rest, The Normal P-R
Interval Is Typically .11 sec. Or Slightly Under
3 mm.
50- For Children Who Are 6 Years Of Age, The P-R
Interval At Rest Is .13 Seconds Or Slightly Over
3 mm.
51- In Children 12 Years Of Age, The P-R Interval At
Rest Will Be .14 Seconds Or About 3.5 mm.
52- In Grown Adults 18 Years Of Age And Older, The
P-R Interval At Rest Will Be 3-5 mm In Length.
53- Prolonged P-R Intervals Are Symptomatic Of AV
Blocks Due To Coronary Disease Rheumatic Fever.
54- Sometimes, Prolonged P-R Intervals Not Related To
Heart Disease, Can Be Seen In Healthy Athletes -
An Aberration Called A Normal Variant. This Can
Be Seen In About 1 - 2 Of The Healthy, Young
Population.
55- Pathologies Resulting In PR Interval Shortening
56- Shortened P-R Intervals Are Seen In Patients With
Pheochromocytoma And Wolfe-Parkinson-White
Syndrome
57- Pheochromocytoma is a tumor in the adrenal
medulla that results in a greater-than-normal
release of catecholamines. The high blood
concentration of catecholamines causes the heart
rate to accelerate.
58- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is a medical
condition in which atrioventricular myocardial
accessory pathways electrically pre-excite the
ventricles to contract producing an extremely
short PR interval.
59- These accessory electrical pathways are remnants
of fetal pathways that did not disappear after
birth. The Bundle Of Kent has been implicated as
a common aberrant pathway in W-P-W.
60- W-P-W occurs in .15 - .20 of the population
or 21,000 people. Patients with W-P-W are
otherwise healthy.
61- W-P-W effects men more than women and can evolve
into atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias with a
general mortality up to 4 of the effected
population.
62- Patients with W-P-W often complain of episodic
symptoms that include chest discomfort,
dizziness, and palpitations.
63http//homepages.enterprise.net/djenkins/ecghome.h
tml
64http//www.heartinfo.org/physician/ecg/wpw.htm
65The Q Wave
- Definition The Q Wave Is The First Downward
Deflection After The P Wave Before The R Wave.
66- Sometimes Q Waves Are Present Sometimes They
Are Absent Depending On The Lead.
67- It is common to normally see Q waves in leads I,
II, aVL and in V4-6.
68- A Normal Q Wave Is Not Wider In Duration Than 0.5
mm Or About .02 Seconds. Its Normal Amplitude Is
lt 1 mm.
69- Q Waves Are An Indication Of Ventricular Septal
Wall Depolarization.
70- They Appear Before The QRS Complex Because The
Fascicle That Conducts The Signal Is Higher Than
The Right And Left Bundle Branch That Give You
The QRS Complex.
71- Q Waves Of Normal Size Have No Diagnostic Meaning
In Normal Hearts Except That The Septum Has
Depolarized.
72Significant Q Waves
- Q waves In Leads I, II, aVF, aVL Can Mean
Something If ... -
73- 1. They Are Between 25 - 33 Of The Amplitude Of
The R Wave. - 2. They Are Greater Than 0.04 Seconds (1 mm) In
Duration.
74- Q waves of any size are normal in leads aVR.
75- If They Are 25-33 Of The Total Amplitude Of The
R Wave, Then They Are Significant For The
Presence Of An MI In The Lead Where The Q Wave
Appears.
76- In Other Words, If The Significant Q Wave Appears
In Leads II, III Or aVF, Then The MI Must Have
Occurred In The Inferior Portion Of The Heart -
The Right Coronary Is Blocked.
77- If The Significant Q Wave Appeared In Lead I Or
aVL, Then The MI Must Have Occurred In The
Antero-Lateral Or Lateral Portions Of The Left
Ventricle.
78- Since Lead I aVL Cover The Lateral Wall Of The
Left Ventricle, Then The Occlusion Likely
Occurred In The Circumflex Or The Marginal
Branches Of The Left Coronary.
79- Use The Precordial Chest Leads To Look For
Significant Q Waves For The Presence Of An MI In
The Anterior Portion Of The Heart - V1 - V6 - The
LAD Is Occluded.
80The R Wave
- Definition The R Wave Is The First Upward
Deflection After The P Wave.
81- In the precordial chest leads, there should be an
R wave progression - i.e. - an ever increasing
amplitude of the R wave from V1 through V6
82http//www.heartinfo.org/physician/ecg/norm.htm
83- R wave progression occurs because the precordial
chest leads sweep across the thoracic cage
looking from the thinner right ventricle across
to the thicker left ventricle.
84- Loss of the R wave progression is abnormal and
signals the possible presence of bundle branch
blocks or the occurrence of a myocardial
infarction.
85The S Wave
- Definition The S Wave Is Defined As The First
Downward Deflection After The R Wave.
86- There is a normal progressive decrease in the
size of the S wave in the precordial leads.
87- V1 through V2 should have large S waves with a
decreasing appearance of S through V5 and V6.
88http//www.heartinfo.org/physician/ecg/norm.htm
89QRS Complex Generalities
- Mostly Upward Deflected QRS Complexes Are Found
In Leads I, II, III, aVF, aVL, V4, V5, and V6.
90- Mostly Downward Deflected QRS Complexes Will Be
Seen In Leads aVR And V1,V2, And Sometimes V3.
91- The QRS Complex Signals The Depolarization Of The
Ventricles.
92- A Normal QRS Complex Has A Duration of .06 -
.12 Sec. Or About 1.5 - 3.0 mm.
93- If The QRS Is gt3mm, The Medical Staff Will
Construe It To Mean There Is An Abnormal
Intraventricular Conduction Pathway.
94The ST Segment
- The ST Segment Is The Pause After The QRS Complex
- The Interval Between The End Of The QRS Complex
The Beginning Of The T Wave.
95- It Symbolizes The End Of Ventricular
Depolarization To The Start Of Ventricular
Repolarization.
96- It Is During This Phase Of The EKG When The Heart
Is Being Passively Perfused - The Windkessel
Effect.
97- The ST Segment Slopes Gently Up Toward The
Isoelectric Line From The J Point And Ends At The
Beginning Of The T Wave.
98The ST Segment
99Normal EKG w/ J Point In aVL
100- Normal Up Sloping Of The ST Segment May Be 1-2 mm
In Indo-Europeans And As Much As 4 mm In
African-Americans
101- The Normal Duration Of The ST Segment Is About
2-3 mm.
102ST Segment Elevation
- When The ST Segment Is Elevated In A Patient With
Known Disease, It Is Usually A Sign Of An
Evolving Transmural Infarction - An MI In
Progress.
103ST Segment Elevation
104ST Segment Elevation
105- So...., The Classic Signs Of An Acute MI In
Progress Are - Elevated ST Segment
- Inverted T Wave
- Presence Of A Q Wave
106- Signs Of An
- Anterior Wall Infarction
107Anterior Wall Infarction
- An anterior wall MI is usually caused by an
occlusion of the LAD - EKG changes are seen in any of the precordial
chest leads - V1 - V6
108ST Segment ChangesWith An Acute Anterior MI
- ST segment elevation in V1-V6 and in Leads I and
aVL (the lateral wall leads). - Reciprocal ST segment depression in Leads II, III
aVF (the inferior leads)
109Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarctionhttp//homepa
ges.enterprise.net/djenkins/ami.html
110- In An Uncomplicated MI, These EKG Changes Will
Largely Disappear Once The Infarction Has Frankly
Resolved - Usually In About 3 Or More Days.
111Mature Anterior Wall MI
112- Signs Of An
- Inferior Wall Infarction
113Inferior Wall Infarction
- This infarction occurs on the diaphragmatic
surface of the heart. - It is frequently caused by an occlusion to blood
flow through the right coronary
114ST Segment Changes With An Acute Inferior MI
- ST segment elevations in Leads II, III and aVF
- Reciprocal ST segment changes in Leads I, aVL,
V1-V6.
115Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarctionhttp//homepa
ges.enterprise.net/djenkins/ami.html
116- In An Uncomplicated MI, These EKG Changes Will
Largely Disappear Once The Infarction Has Frankly
Resolved - Usually In About 3 Days.
117A Mature Inferior Wall MI
118Old Inferior Wall MI
119- Signs Of A
- Lateral Wall Infarction
120Lateral Wall Infarction
- This type of MI involves the lateral wall of the
heart - the left ventricle. - It is often caused by an occlusion to blood flow
through the circumflex artery.
121- ST segment elevations will be seen in the lateral
chest leads - Leads I, aVL and V5 and V6.
122Acute Lateral Wall MI
123- In An Uncomplicated MI, These EKG Changes Will
Largely Disappear Once The Infarction Has Frankly
Resolved - Usually In About 3 Days.
124Mature Lateral Wall Infarct
125- For All Types Of MIs, The Q Wave Often Remains
As The Only Residual Sign That An Infarction Has
Occurred. Also, The ST Segment May Be
Permanently Depressed.
126ST Segment Depression
- When The ST Segment Is Depressed, Then It Is
Usually A Sign Of Cardiac Ischemia.
127ST Segment Depression
128Types Of ST Segment Depression
129- ST Segment Depression May Be A Permanent Part Of
The EKG Tracing.
130- At Rest The Patient May Have A Normal ST Segment.
However, It May Become Depressed As The Persons
Exercise Level Is Increased Above The Hearts
Ability To Receive Adequate Perfusion.
131- The ST segment depression will begin to appear as
the heart becomes ischemic - It will continue to be more depressed the more
ischemic the heart becomes.
132- The ST segment will normalize once the exercise
intensity is reduced to a level in which the
heart receives enough perfusion to support the
work that is being demanded.
133The T Wave
- The T Wave Represents Repolarization Of The
Ventricles. - Repolarization Proceeds From The Apex Of The
Heart To The Base Of The Heart.
134- In Normal Hearts, The T Wave Is Usually Upright
In Leads I, II, III, aVF, aVL, V2-V6.
135- In Normal Hearts, The T Wave Will Usually Be
Upside Down In aVR And V1.
136- The Normal Duration Of The T Wave Is About 1-2 mm.
137- Normal Amplitude For The T Wave Is Highly
Variable.
138- T Waves Get Taller During GXTs And Exercise.
139T Waves During Infarction
- With infarction, the T wave usually becomes tall
and narrow - referred to as peaking. - With time and the onset of ischemia, the T wave
will invert.
140The QT Interval
- The QT Interval Encompasses The Time From The
Beginning Of The Q Or R Wave Through The End Of
The T Wave.
141- The QT Interval Represents 40 Of The Normal
Cardiac Cycle Whether At Rest Or During Exercise.
142- The QT Interval Becomes Shorter As The Heart
Rate Increases.
143Summary Of Durations Amplitudes Of The P-QRS-T
- P Waves
- Normal Duration 2.5 mm
- Normal Amplitude 2-3 mm
- PR Intervals
- Normal Duration 3-5 mm
144- Q Waves
- Normal Duration lt .5 mm
- Normal Amplitude lt25 of R amplitude or 1.0
mm
145- QRS Complex
- Normal Duration lt 3.0 mm
- Normal Amplitude Variable
- ST Segment
- Normal Amplitude 1-2 mm
- Normal Duration 2-3 mm
146- T Wave
- Normal Duration 2 mm
- Normal Amplitude lt 5 mm in Limb Leads lt 10 mm
in Precordial Leads