Electrocardiogram: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Robert Badgett
imported>Robert Badgett
No edit summary
Line 5: Line 5:


ECG electrodes usually come as 3,5 or 10 lead. These are:
ECG electrodes usually come as 3,5 or 10 lead. These are:
: 3 lead - Left ARM or LA, Right Arm or RA, and Left Leg or LL
: 5 lead  - additional leads of Right Leg or RL and V for Chest
: 10 lead - additional leads of V1-V6 replacing the V lead, with each V lead being placed between the ribs
The health and function of the heart can be measured by the shape of the ECG waveform. Typical heart problems are leaking valves and blocked coronary arteries.


: 3lead - Left ARM or LA, Right Arm or RA, and Left Leg or LL
The ECG paper:
: 5lead  - additional leads of Right Leg or RL and V for Chest
* Normal speed is 25 mm/sec. At this speed
: 10lead - additional leads of V1-V6 replacing the V lead, with each V lead being placed between the ribs
** Each 1 mm horizontal box corresponds to 0.04 second (40 ms)
The health and function of the heart can be measured by the shape of the ECG waveform. Typical heart problems are leaking valves and blocked coronary arteries.
** Heavier lines are placed at 0.20 sec (200 ms) intervals.
* At the normal vertical standard, 10 mm equals 1 mV.


==The basic waveform==
==The basic waveform==

Revision as of 13:14, 7 September 2009

This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

ECG stands for electrocardiogram. It is also known as EKG, either to reflect the German or Dutch Elektrokardiogramm, or to avoid confusion with EEG for electroencephalogram. While there had been earlier measurements of the electric activity of the heart, the Dutch physician Willem Einthoven developed the first medically useful device in 1903, for which he received the 1924 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The ECG refers to the small voltages (~1mv) found on the skin as a result of electrical activity of the heart. These electrical actions trigger various electrical and muscular activity in the heart, so a combined display of the ECG, along with another modality, such as ultrasonography (i.e., echocardiography, which could present yet another ambiguity for the abbreviation ECG), will show the ECG actions slightly preceding muscular action.

ECG electrodes usually come as 3,5 or 10 lead. These are:

3 lead - Left ARM or LA, Right Arm or RA, and Left Leg or LL
5 lead - additional leads of Right Leg or RL and V for Chest
10 lead - additional leads of V1-V6 replacing the V lead, with each V lead being placed between the ribs

The health and function of the heart can be measured by the shape of the ECG waveform. Typical heart problems are leaking valves and blocked coronary arteries.

The ECG paper:

  • Normal speed is 25 mm/sec. At this speed
    • Each 1 mm horizontal box corresponds to 0.04 second (40 ms)
    • Heavier lines are placed at 0.20 sec (200 ms) intervals.
  • At the normal vertical standard, 10 mm equals 1 mV.

The basic waveform

Normal cardiac complex from electrocardiogram.

Although the appearance of the waveform, even in normal individuals, should be different on the various leads, the repeating waveform has several common points of inflection or "waves", as well as some components that are present only in disease.

PR interval

A prolonged PR interval is associated with increased mortality.[1]

QRS complex

  • The QRS complex is due to ventricular activity.
    • The normal angle is -30º to + 100º.
    • The normal duration is ≤0.10 sec (21/2 small boxes)
    • Q: may or may not be present, and if present, may or may not indicate disease. In combination with other indications of myocardial infarction (MI), there can be useful clinical distinctions between MIs where a Q wave is present, and non-Q-wave MIs.
    • R: caused by the first electrical signal arriving, via the AV node and Purkinke fibers, at the ventricles.
    • S: caused by the completion of depolarization of the ventricles after they contract

ST segment

The "segments", or sections between these above points also are clinically significant. In particular, the ST segment, which is normally isoelectric, tends to be elevated in the presence of myocardial infarction and depressed in the presence of myocardial ischemia. Even at rest, abnormal ST segments geriatric patients are a risk factor for coronary death.[2] By examining the degree of elevation or depression from the different leads, which essentially are different angles of view of the heart, it is possible to localize the damage.

In the presence of symptoms suggestive of heart disease, myocardial infarction cannot be excluded if the ECG is normal. It is possible to have severe heart disease and a normal ECG. Other tests are needed for a conclusive diagnosis.

T wave

  • T wave: repolarization of the ventricles

Electrolyte effects on the ECG

Calcium

Hypercalcemia

Hypocalcemia

Potassium

Hyperkalemia

  • Peaked T waves
  • PR interval lengthens
  • QRS duration increases

Hypokalemia

  • Depression of the ST segment
  • Decrease in the amplitude of the T wave
  • U waves, especially in the lateral precordial leads V4-V6

Magnesium

References