Thursday, May 29, 2008

EKG's made EZ

The NCLEX exam doesn't expect you to be a highly trained cardiologist, and the USMLE on average only asks 2 questions about EKGs, but recognition of important pathological rhythms is a requirement for all future nurses and physicians. One of the most important, yet daunting tasks in the nursing and medical fields is to learn to recognize, both accurately and rapidly, Electrocardiograms (ECGs). Variations from the normal p, QRS, and T waves can be completely harmless to fatal in minutes, and it is up to us in the healthcare field to be able to tell the difference, and act accordingly.

Lets take a look at these variations and see if there is a way to make this a bit easier to understand. We will divide these variations up into three groups: Bradyarrhythmias (abnormal rhythms with rate usually below 60),Tachyarrhythmias (abnormal rhythms with rate usually above 100 bpm), and Dysrhythmias (alterations to the normal sinus rhythm pattern).


1.Sinus Bradycardia
HR less than 60 requires treatment with Atropine only if symptomatic

2.AV Block
A.1st Degree•Key: PR interval above 0.2 seconds; Delay is in AV node
Usually benign but low HR responds to Atropine

B.2nd Degree type I•Key: Progressive prolongation of PR until a P wave fails to conduct and no QRS follows a P wave; Delay is in AV node
Usually benign condition seen with normal aging not requiring treatment, but if symptomatic with bradycardia, will respond to Atropine

C.2nd Degree type II
• Key: Normal EKG with a sudden drop of a QRS; Block usually in the His-Purkinje system usually as a result of ischemia
•Can turn into the deadly 3rd degree so temporary transcutaneous pacer may be needed until an implantable pacemaker can be inserted

D.3rd Degree
• AV dissociation often from irreversible damage to the AV node following a MI
• Key: P-P length does not equal R-R length
•Ventricles do not pump fast enough to maintain CO and requires pacemaker

Atrial impulse

A.Sinus TachycardiaHR 100-140, may occur with exercise or anxiety, but also may be earliest indication of hypovolemia
•Usually not symptomatic until above 140 when diastolic filling time is impaired
•Count the large boxes from top of a QRS to another: 1 box = 300bpm, 2 box = 150bpm, 3 box = 100bpm, 4 box = 75bpm, 5 box = 60bpm
•TX: Eliminate cause (i.e. anemia, stimulant; fluid bolus)

B.SupraVentricular Tachycardia•A conduction signal loops and reenters the atrium causing rapid, atrial driven HR usually above 140bpm
•Atrial tachycardia results in narrow QRS complexes
•TX: Adenosine given rapid IV push

D.Atrial Flutter•One foci in atrium fires rapidly, leading to sawtooth P waves and regular QRS with HR between 75-175
•Occurs most often in COPD, but may be seen with CAD and Atrial septal defects (ASD)
•TX: Identical to AFib

Atrial Fibrillation•Multiple atrial foci cause lack of P waves and very irregular QRS waves with widely varied HR from 75-175 bpm

•Caused by CAD, MI, HT, PE, Pericarditis, Hyperthyroidism
•Major risk for thrombotic events (CVA) so treat according to protocol
•Treatment Protocol; Determine length/onset of AFib:
Acute: less than 48hrs
Unstable: (Hypotensive, AMS) Immediate cardioversion
»Tachycardic: Control Rate w/ Beta Blocker (Atenolol) then electrical cardioversion
»NSR: Proceed directly to cardioversion (electrical preferred to pharmacologic; If electrical fails or is unfeasible use Amiodarone to convert)
Acute: greater than 48 hrs or unknown duration
Before cardioversion: If longer than 2 days must use Warfarin to anticoagulate for 3 weeks before and 4 weeks after
Avoid the wait: Can obtain an echo to r/o thrombus and load pt with Heparin and proceed to cardioversion; Still require the 4 week Warfarin anticoagulation after
Chronic: Under 60 with no heart disease or risk factors require no treatment; All others get Warfarin for good

•Ventricular impulse

A.Ventricular Tachycardia
•Ventricular foci initiate rapid HR with wide QRS complexes
•Caused by prior MI (most common), active ischemia, hypotension, cardiomyopathy, Drugs, Electrolyte abnormalities•May initially have a pulse, but can rapidly evolve into a deadly pulseless VTach
•TX: VTach with a pulse treated with 150mg Amiodarone
•TX: Pulseless VTach treated identical to VFib with Code being called: CPR, Defibrillation, Epinephrine, Amiodarone, and Lidocaine (Alternate drugs w/ Epi being only drug you can not max out on)

B.Ventricular Fibrillation
•Ventricular foci initiates rapid rhythm which causes heart to fatigue and quiver
•Typically evolves from VTach
Ischemic heart disease most common cause
Always pulseless, so initiate a code as above

C.Torsades de Pointe•A polymorphic VTach with varying direction of QRS amplitude (points alternate down to up)
•Often caused by electrolyte problems and long QT, so give a trial of Mag and Calcium

•Loss of electrical signal initiation so it doesn’t respond to Defibrillation (basically resets rhythm to asystole)
Epinephrine and Atropine are only hopes


A.Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC)•Abnormal Foci causes random, wide QRS contractions
•May not progress to any other rhythm and have no symptoms
•Can progress to VTach and VFib, so treat more than 6/min or if symptoms present with BBs

B.ST Elevation
•Usually an ominous sign of actual myocardial infarction
•Treat with ACS protocol including ECG and Enzymes
•If present in all 12 leads may suggest Pericarditis

C.T wave Inversion
•An ominous sign of cardiac ischemia, can precede B
D.Q wave
•If deeper than ½ of QRS, suggests a prior infarction, Follows B

E.U wave
•Suggestive of hypokalemia
F.ST Depression
•Often a sign of ischemia, use MONA, ECG, Enzymes

G.Peaked T wave•Suggestive of hyperkalemia

H.Prolonged QT
QT width is more than ½ the width of QRS-QRS
•Often caused by low Mg or Ca, as well as many drugs that effect these electrolytes
•TX: Withdrawal medication that caused and check/treat electrolyte abnormalities


Anonymous said...

a very concise view of ecg abnormalities, good for studends for a quick referral. but subject should be known and well read beforehand

Chad said...

I created the images on powerpoint and they look good in that format, but when shrunken for the internet...not so good.

Glad you found it helpful though.

Philip Smith said...

Excellent blog very nice and unique information related to NCLEX Reviewa. Thanks for sharing this information.
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Kimberlee said...

I am taking my NCLEX today, and this is a great review for EKG basics. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much!!!! You made me understood in less than 5 minutes, which no one could! Thank you Thank you Thank you! : )

Anonymous said...

Super helpful for a quick NCLEX review. Many sources go much further in depth than I feel is necessary.

Sarah DeJesus said...

Very helpful Thank you so much~IV quarter nursing student

Anonymous said...

thank you .i learned a lot from this.easy than video in youtube.

Anonymous said...

always had a hard time reading arrhythmia's w/treatment! Short and sweet! Love!

Anonymous said...

This is gold! Thank you so much.

Anonymous said...

Helped me a lot to understand dysrhythmias. Thank you! God bless! :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much. This is very helpful!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, it such a great help

Rachelle Jocson said...

I'd like to ask what NSR means under the Afib. Thank you

Anonymous said...

NSR just means a normal heart rate less than 100