ECG basics for undergraduate
How to identify normal ECG
How to identify abnormal findings in ECG
-Atrial hypertrophy
-Hyperkalaemia
-Atrial fibrillation
-Hypokalaemia
-Atrial flutter
-Pericarditis
-Heart blocks
-Chambers enlargement
-IHD
-AMI
2. Topics will be covered
• ECG basics
• How to identify normal ECG
• How to identify abnormal findings in ECG
– Atrial hypertrophy - Hyperkalaemia
– Atrial fibrillation - Hypokalaemia
– Atrial flutter - Pericarditis
– Heart blocks
– Chambers enlargement
– IHD
– AMI HEXAGON
3. Topics will not be covered
• Signs and symptoms of the diseases with
abnormal ECG
• Treatments of those diseases
HEXAGON
4. What is ECG?
• ECG is a medical device capable of
recording the electrical activity of the heart
from electrodes placed on the skin in
specific locations.
HEXAGON
5. Standard ECG leads
• Limb leads
Bipolar limb leads – I, II, III
Unipolar limb leads – aVL, aVR, aVF
• Chest leads
V1 - V6
HEXAGON
6. Right
Arm
Right
Leg
Left
Leg
Left
Arm
• Limb leads are typically
placed on the inside of
the wrists and ankles
• To help reduce artifacts
you can use the upper
arms and thighs
• Do not place limb leads
on the torso
Limb leads
HEXAGON
7. Chest Leads look at the heart inChest Leads look at the heart in
a horizontal plane.a horizontal plane.
• V1: right sternal edge (4th)V1: right sternal edge (4th)
• V2: Left sternal edge (4th)V2: Left sternal edge (4th)
• V4: the patient’s apexV4: the patient’s apex
beatbeat
• V3: half-way b/t V2 and V4V3: half-way b/t V2 and V4
• V5: anterior axillary lineV5: anterior axillary line
• V6: mid-axillary lineV6: mid-axillary line
V5 and V6 are in the sameV5 and V6 are in the same
horizontal plane as V4horizontal plane as V4
Chest
Leads
HEXAGON
11. Wave. Interval. Complex.
• One letter = wave
– Eg = P, T
• Need to check height and width
• Two letters = interval
– PR interval
• Need to check length
• 3 letters = complex
– QRS complex
• Need to check height, width and shape
HEXAGON
25. AV blocks
Conduction from atrium to the ventricles via
the AV node may be either
– Delayed – as in 1st
degree block (or)
– Blocked – as in 2nd
and 3rd
degree blocks
HEXAGON
26. – 1st
degree HB
– 2nd
degree HB
Mobitz type 1 (Wenkebach phenomenon)
Mobitz type 2
– 3rd
degree HB (complete HB)
Different types of Heart Blocks
HEXAGON
38. QRS nomenclature
• If 1st
deflection is negative Q wave
• 1st
positive deflection = R wave
• Negative deflection after R wave =S wave
• Positive deflection after R wave = R prime(R’)
• Negative deflection after S wave=S prime (S’)
HEXAGON
49. Chest-lead voltage criteria:
– S in V1 or V2 + R in V5 or V6 > 35 mm(7.1sq)
– R in V5 or V6 >25 mm (5.1sq)
Feature of LVH
HEXAGON
50. Note
The deep S waves in
V1 and tall R waves in V5
and V6.
S V1 + R V5 > 35 mm
Left ventricular strain
pattern in V5 and V6
Left ventricular hypertrophy
HEXAGON
51. • Right axis deviation
• R wave larger than S wave in V1
(Tall R in V1)
• S wave larger than R wave in V6
(Deep S in V6)
Feature of RVH
HEXAGON
75. P wave : Duration: 0.08 sec ( 2 small squares )
Height: < 2.5 mm ( 2 small squares )
PR interval: Duration: 0.12 - 0.20 sec (3-5 small squares)
QRS Complex : Duration: 0.07–0.10 sec(2 – 2½ small
squares)
ST segment : Isoelectric
T wave : 1/8 previous R < T < 2/3 previous R
Important intervals and
durations
While there are 4 limb electrodes / cables, it is important to remember that the electrode attached to the right leg plays no part in the formation of any lead – it is only there to stabilise the ECG.
Although the fronts of the wrists and ankles are common positions for the attachment of cables to electrodes, all parts of the limb will give an identical electrical signal. However, it is NOT good practice to place limb electrodes on either the abdomen or shoulders.
Augmented Leads
Leads aVR, aVL, and aVF make up the augmented leads
(FIG. 2-4). Each letter of an augmented lead refers to a
specific term: a augmented, V voltage, R right
arm, L left arm, F foot (the left foot).
STANDARD CHEST LEADS
The chest leads are identified as V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6 (FIG. 2-5). Each electrode placed in a “V” position is positive.