understanding rhythm strips

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Understanding Rhythm Strips

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Page 1: Understanding rhythm strips

Understanding Rhythm Strips

Page 2: Understanding rhythm strips

Waveforms and Components of The ECG Pattern

• A waveform – A positive or a negative defection that begins and ends at the baseline– It is an electrical representation of depolarization and repolarization

occurring in the heart• When there is NO electrical activity is detected, a straight line

(isoelectric or base line) is recorded• The waveforms produced by the heart’s electrical conduction

system are called– P– QRS– T– May or may not be a U Wave

Page 3: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Waveforms

• P wave– Occurs when the right and left atria are stimulated

• QRS complex– Occurs when the right and left ventricles are stimulated

• T wave– Represents electrical recovery or return to a resting state

for the ventricles• U wave– If see, is thought to represent the repolarization of the

Purkinje fibers

Page 4: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Waveforms

• P wave– Normally an upright and rounded waveform

• QRS complex– Usually the largest of all the waveforms and is

spike shaped and narrow in appearance• T wave– Appears as a slightly asymmetric upright waveform– It is usually larger than the P wave and smaller

than the QRS

Page 5: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Waveform

Page 6: Understanding rhythm strips

EGC Waveform

Page 7: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Segments

• Segment– Length of baseline between two waves• PR segment

– Represents the delay of the impulse in the AV node

• ST segment– Represents the early part of repolarization of the right and left

ventricles

Page 8: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Intervals

• Interval is defined as the combination of a wave or several waves and a segment

• By measuring time intervals on the ECG, it can be determined how long the electrical wave takes to pass through the heart

Page 9: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Intervals

• PR interval– P wave & PR segment– Corresponds to the spread of the electrical impulse

through the atria and the delay of the impulse in the AV node before it travels to the ventricular muscle tissue

• QT interval– QRS complex & ST segment & T wave– Represents electrical stimulation and recovery of the

ventricles

Page 10: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Segments & Intervals

Page 11: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Paper and Measurements

• ECG paper– Graph paper used to measure rates of impulse

formation and the duration of the electrical events that occur in the heart

– Vertical and horizontal lines, which from large and small boxes

– Vertical lines• Measure voltage in millivolts

– Horizontal lines• Measure time in seconds

Page 12: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Paper and Measurements

• By counting the small or large boxes from the beginning to the end of the ECG waveforms and intervals, we can calculate the time it takes for the electricity to travel through certain parts of the heart and the rate at which impulses occur

Page 13: Understanding rhythm strips

ECG Paper and Measurements

Time Equivalents of Small Boxes

• 1 small box = 0.04 second

• 2 small boxes = 0.08 second• 3 small boxes = 0.12 second• 4 small boxes = 0.16 second• 5 small boxes = 0.20 second

Time Equivalents of Large Boxes

• 1 large box = 0.20 second• 5 large boxes = 1 second• 15 large boxes = 3 seconds• 30 large boxes = 6 seconds

Page 14: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• P Wave: Upright, smooth and rounded, and no more than 2.5 mm in height

Page 15: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• PR Interval: Measure 0.12 to 0.20 second wide or 3 to 5 small boxes

Page 16: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• QRS: Narrow in appearance, upright in Leads I, II, and III. Measures 0.04 to 0.11 second wide or 1 to 2 ½ small boxes

Page 17: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• ST Segment: Isoelectric

Page 18: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• T Wave: Slightly asymmetric, upright, and less than half the height of the QRS complex or 5 mm in height or less

Page 19: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• QT interval: QT interval is less than half the R-R interval or 0.36 to 0.44 seconds or 9 to 11 small boxes– The duration of the QT interval varies according to

age, gender, and heart rate• As the heart rate increases

– QT interval decreases

• As the heart rate decreases– QT interval increases

Page 20: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• QT Interval– Fast heart rate• Small QT interval

– Slow heart rate• Large QT interval

Page 21: Understanding rhythm strips

Normal ECG Pattern and Measurements

• U Wave: Upright and rounded. Usually less than 2 mm in height and smaller than that of the preceding T wave

Page 22: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal P wave– Wide or notched-Left atrial enlargement or

ectopic impulse from atria– Tall and pointed (peaked) – Right atrial

enlargement or ectopic impulse from atria– Negative (Inverted) - ectopic pacemaker in the AV

junction

Page 23: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Wide or notched

• Tall and pointed (peaked)

• Negative (inverted)

Page 24: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal PR Interval– A PR interval greater than 0.20 second wide is

abnormal– This may be seen in • AV blocks• Hypothyroidism• Digitalis toxicity

Page 25: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal QRS complex:– A wide QRS (greater than 0.12 second wide)• may be seen when an impulse originates from an

ectopic site in the ventricular myocardium• If there is a delay or block of the impulse in the bundle

branches

Page 26: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal ST segment– Elevated ST segment• Elevated more than 1 mm in the limb leads or 2 mm in

the precordial leads – Suggestive of myocardial injury

» infarction

Page 27: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal ST segment– Scoop ST depression• May be caused by digitalis toxicity

– Depressed ST segment• More than 1 mm

– Suggestive of myocardial ischemia

Page 28: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal T wave– Negative (inverted) • Suggest myocardial ischemia or infarction

Page 29: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal T wave– Low, flattened T waves• Can be seen with hypokalemia (low potassium)

Page 30: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal T Wave– Tall Tented T waves• Suggestive of hyperkalemia (high potassium)

Page 31: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal QT interval– Prolonged (greater than 0.44 seconds)• May be congenital or acquired

– i.e. medications, electrolyte abnormalities

Page 32: Understanding rhythm strips

Abnormal Characteristics of the ECG Pattern

• Abnormal U Wave– A U wave taller than 2 mm• Electrolyte imbalance • Medications• Hyperthyroidism• Central nervous system disease

Page 33: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• A quick method for analyzing a rhythm strip– There are several steps in analyzing a rhythm strip– When analyzing a rhythm strip, don’t forget to

check the patient

Page 34: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 1:– Evaluate the P waves• Look for the presence of P waves and compare the

shape and size of all P waves• All the P waves should be upright and rounded and

uniform in appearance• P wave should be present before each QRS

Page 35: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 2:– Evaluate QRS Complexes• All of the QRS’s should be uniform and narrow in

appearance

Page 36: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 2: continued– Measuring the QRS less than 0.12• Begin from the point where the first wave of the

complex begins to deviate from the baseline and end where the complex returns to the baseline• Count the number of small boxes and multiply by o.o4

seconds

Page 37: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 3:– Calculate the Atrial and Ventricular Heart Rates• There are a couple of methods to discuss• One will only be used by an MST

– Six-Second Method

Page 38: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 3: continued– A normal heart rate in the resting adult is between

60 and 100– A rate below 60• bradycardia

– A rate above 100• tachycardia

– The atrial rate should be the same as the ventricular rate

Page 39: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 3: continued– Six-Second Method (can be used for regular or

irregular rhythm patterns)• Print off six seconds of ECG paper (use markers at the

top or bottom of the paper– Atrial Rate

» Count the number of P waves within a period of six seconds and multiply that number by 10

– Ventricular Rate» Count the number of QRS complexes within six seconds

and multiply by 10

Page 40: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 3: continued– Small Box Method (best used if the rhythm is

regular, but may be used if the rhythm is irregular and a rate range is given)• Atrial rate

– Count the number of small boxes between two P waves, and find the corresponding rate on the small box calculation chart

• Ventricular rate– Count the number of small boxes between two QRS

complexes and find the corresponding rate on the small box calculation chart

Page 41: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 4:– Determine the regularity of the rhythm (pattern)• Measure the distance between two consecutive QRS’s

and compare that distance with the other R-R intervals• If the rhythm is regular, the R-R intervals will be the

same

Page 42: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 5: – Measure the PR intervals• Count the number of small boxes from the beginning of

the P wave to the beginning of the QRS• Multiply this number by 0.04 seconds• The PR intervals should all be the same and measure

0.12 to 0.20 seconds

Page 43: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 6: – Measure the QT interval• Count the number of small boxes from the beginning of

the Q wave to the end of the T wave• Multiply this number by 0.04 seconds• 0.36 to 0.44 seconds or 9 to 11 small boxes for normal

range

Page 44: Understanding rhythm strips

Steps for Analyzing a Rhythm Strip

• Step 7: – Compare your findings to what is normal for the

patient