ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG/EKG)
Outline Definition of ECG Electricity of the heart Indication of ECG Understanding of ECG recording Normal ECG
What is an electrocardiogram? An electrocardiogram or 'ECG' records the electrical activity of the heart. The heart produces small electrical impulses which spread through the heart muscle to make the heart contract.
What is an electrocardiogram? The ECG test is painless and harmless. (The ECG machine records electrical impulses coming from your body - it does not put any electricity into your body)
The electricity of the heart The contraction of any muscle is associated with electrical changes called “depolarization” and these changes can be detected by electrodes attached to the surface of the body.
The electricity of the heart
Indications For diagnosis of: Myocardial Infarction& other types of CAD such as angina Cardiac dysrhythmias Cardiac enlargement Electrolyte disturbances Inflammatory diseases of the heart Effects on the heart by drugs, such as antiarrythmics
Understanding ECG recording Each conventional ECG tracing records from : Bipolar leads (2 opposite points) consisting of lead I, II, III Unipolar leads i.e. aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6. Bipolar leads All the bipolar leads measure the potential difference between 2 points namely : lead I between right arm (RA) and the left arm (LA). lead II between RA and left leg (LL). lead III between LA and LL.
RIGHT ARM LEFT ARM LEFT LEG RIGHT LEG Limb leads
Chest leads V1:Electrode positioned in the 4th intercostals space in the right sternal border. V2: 4th ICS in the left sternal border. V3: Midway between V2&V4. V4: 5th ICS in the left midclavicular line. V5: Same level as V4, anterior axillary line. V6: Same level as V4 & V5, midaxillary line
Chest leads
V 1 V 2 Mid-Clavicular line V 3 V 4 V 5 V 6
Nurse import ni Mid-Clavicular line
Lead I - Lead I + - - Lead II Lead II Lead III + Lead III + Locations of standard lead I, II, III and chest leads for ECG recording
Normal ECG
The electrical activity of the cardiac cycle is characterized by five primary wave, designated by letters P, Q, R, S, T.
Normal ECG P wave: Represents atrial contraction. QRS complex: Represents ventricular depolarization (contraction) T wave: Represents ventricular relaxation