Question | Answer |
Depressed QRS | Heart failure, ischemia, pericardial effusion, obesity, COPD |
Elevated QRS | Hypertrophy of myocardium |
Q wave | Previous MI |
ST segment elevation | Acute MI |
Atrial Fibrillation (A. Fib) | Irregular atrial rhythm, no rate, P waves are abnormal or not identifiable
"F" waves absent, quivers noted, ventricular rhythm varies
CO is usually maintained
Common causes: HTN, CHF, CAD, rheumatic heart disease, cor pulmonale, pericarditis |
Supraventricular Tachycardia | Rate varies 160-250 bpm, regular rhythm
Common causes: mitral valve prolapse, cor pulmonale, digitalis toxicity, rheumatic heart disease |
Ventricular Fibrillation (V.fib) | No regular rate or rhythm, emergency, require immediate medical attention
Erratic activity without QRS wave
No effective CO; clinical death in 4-6 minutes
Common causes: post MI, long term or severe heart disease, hypercalcemia, hypo and hyper kalemia |
Premature Atrial Contractions (PAC) | P wave is premature with abnormal configuration
Rate is normal
Indicative of ischemia or valve pathology
Common causes: caffeine intake, emotional stress, smoking, CAD, CHF, infection, electrolyte imbalance. |
Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) | Rate > 100 bpm, rhythm usually regular
No P wave or it appears after QRS complex with retrograde conduction;
Wide bizarre QRS waves
Requires immediate medical attention
Common causes: post MI, rheumatic heart disease, CAD, cardiomyopathy
Compromised |
Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC) | Rate is normal (60-100 bpm)
P wave absent, ST segment distorted, QRS complex occurs early
Common causes: caffeine intake, emotional stress, smoking, CAD, MI, cardiomyopathy, digitalis toxicity. |
Complex heart block (3rd degree AV block) | Regular rhythm
Requires immediate medical intervention (pacemaker)
Common causes: CAD, infection, electrolyte imbalance, anteroseptal MI, impairment with AV conduction system. |
Multifocal Ventricular Tachycardia | Rate > 150 bpm, irregular rhythm
No P waves, QRS complex is wide, require immediate medical attention
Common causes: hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypothermia, drug-induced through antiarrhythmic medications. |
Asystole | No rhythm
Absence of P waves, QRS, and T wave
Can have abrupt onset and requires immediate medical attention
Common causes: failure of all pacemakers to initiate, conduction system failure, acute MI, ventricular rupture. |
Ischemia | Inverted T wave |
ST depression | May indicate ischemia if downsloping 2-3 mm |
ST elevation | Shows new infarct, injury, or pericarditis |
| |