- Interpreting the ECG
You decide to interpret the patient’s rhythm strip to help with diagnosis and treatment.
Examine each image and select your responses. When you are ready, select confirm to receive your feedback.
Examine each image and select your responses. When you are ready, select confirm to receive your feedback.
Case 1
- 1. Is there any electrical activity?
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Case 2
- 2. Is the ventricular (QRS) rate normal?
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- 3. Is the QRS rhythm regular?
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- 4. Is the QRS complex width normal?
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Case 3
- 5. Is atrial activity visible?
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References
See chapter 8 of the ALS manual for further explanation and examples of how to analyse cardiac rhythm from the ECG.
Essentials: Components of a normal ECG complex
- Depolarisation begins in the SA node and then spreads through the atrial myocardium
- This depolarisation is recorded on the rhythm strip as the P wave. The heart responds to this electrical stimulus byatrial contraction
- The small isoelectric segment between the P wave and QRS complex represents the delay in transmission through the AV node
- Depolarisation of the bundle of His, bundle branches and ventricular myocardium is shown on the rhythm strip as the QRS complex
- The T wave represents recovery of the resting potential (repolarisation) in the cells of the conducting system and ventricular myocardium
Algorithm: The tachycardia algorithm
The tachycardia algorithm is available in chapter 11 of the ALS manual.
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