Ecg/ekg

[eur]

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Are there a lot of ECG's on the step 1's? To what extent should we study these if you are aiming for a 240 + . Also do we have to just know the different pathological findings on an ECG or do we also have to know the whole physics/physiology of an ecg recording(ie the whole concept of how the leads make an ecg like the cardiac axis, left/right axis deviation etc)?

thanks

 

[lord_jeebus]

I think it is uncommon for people to get more than a couple on their test. I had one -- a very easy one.

You should know all the stuff in First Aid. EKG interpretation beyond that is still fair game, but lower yield. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "physics/physiology" but I imagine a hard question might expect you to know what leads correspond to what area of the heart.

 

[osli]

I guess "physcis/physiology" might be something like knowing whether during an upward deflection of the tracing the electrode is sensing a current moving towards or away from it, and how subendocardial vs. transmural ischemia might manifest differently, or what tamponade might do to the tracing (and why) etc. Which is different from recognizing LVH or STEMI or a nodal block.

I get the impression from others that the latter is more likely on the USMLE, but who knows what they might actually see.