Ecg Basics Help

[lookleft]

So I'm trying to learn the basics in reading ecg's. My biggest problem is that I don't know what is normal in each lead. For example should xwave be upright or down in xlead, etc.

I've searched a number of texts and maybe I'm missing something but I can't find these answers.

Can someone please help, and tell me what normal morphology is for the pwave, qrs complex, t wave, etc for each lead.

Thank You very much

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[osli]

I recommend getting Dubin's "Rapid Interpretation of EKG's". Very good and simple book - written in a "see dick run" style. It does a wonderful job of explaining how the various leads correlate to the normal tracings found there. Might look like a lot to read for just EKG's when you see it on the shelf, but it really is a pretty quick read... you can easily go through 100 pages an hour.

 

[agranulocytosis]

I've found that questions with specific lead types can be answered based on other information given. For instance, there was a UW question that dealt with some different leads like II, B, vWF, X (or something like that ) but at the same time the patient presented with a symptom not classically associated with an infarct of LAD involvement. This is a purely clinical skill that I doubt is worth our time right now.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

I've found that questions with specific lead types can be answered based on other information given. For instance, there was a UW question that dealt with some different leads like II, B, vWF, X (or something like that ) but at the same time the patient presented with a symptom not classically associated with an infarct of LAD involvement. This is a purely clinical skill that I doubt is worth our time right now.

I agree with you that 12-lead ignorance will not cause you to miss any q's. But I think the OP might mean a standard 3 lead tracing. Which, although I haven't taken it yet, the ignorance of might cost you a chunk of points.

But yeah, when UW tells me a certain pathology is associated with V3-V6 t-wave inversion, but new onset of q's in reciprocal leads that wasn't initially present, etc etc, I usually knew (or didn't know) the etiology without that info.

ETA: I guess they did mean in each lead. Yeah, you won't need that. Take a cardiology elective you overachiever.

 

[hj0517]

Hey guys I'm in my clinical years and analyse ecgs all the time.

The way I analyse is rate, rhythm and axis. Then is there a P followed by Q R S and T. After that looking at the clusters that give you a positional picture - for example II III AVF is inferior etc etc.

My point is - when you say X, B and vWF - what leads are these. Either we are missing something in England or you guys' nomenclature is different.

 

[osli]

I think he was being facetious.