ECG Rhythm Interpretation

Module III

Normal Sinus Rhythm

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 Course Objectives

• To recognize the normal rhythm of the

heart - “Normal Sinus Rhythm.”
• To recognize the 13 most common
rhythm disturbances.
• To recognize an acute myocardial
infarction on a 12-lead ECG.

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 Learning Modules

• ECG Basics
• How to Analyze a Rhythm
• Normal Sinus Rhythm
• Heart Arrhythmias
• Diagnosing a Myocardial Infarction
• Advanced 12-Lead Interpretation
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 Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR)

• Etiology: the electrical impulse is formed

in the SA node and conducted normally.
• This is the normal rhythm of the heart;
other rhythms that do not conduct via
the typical pathway are called
arrhythmias.
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 NSR Parameters

• Rate 60 - 100 bpm

• Regularity regular
• P waves normal
• PR interval 0.12 - 0.20 s
• QRS duration 0.04 - 0.12 s
Any deviation from above is sinus
tachycardia, sinus bradycardia or an
arrhythmia 5 www.similima.com
 Arrhythmia Formation

Arrhythmias can arise from problems in

the:
• Sinus node
• Atrial cells
• AV junction
• Ventricular cells

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 SA Node Problems

The SA Node can:

• fire too slow Sinus Bradycardia
• fire too fast Sinus Tachycardia

Sinus Tachycardia may be an appropriate

response to stress.

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 Atrial Cell Problems

Atrial cells can:

• fire occasionally Premature Atrial
from a focus Contractions (PACs)

• fire continuously Atrial Flutter

due to a looping
re-entrant circuit

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 Teaching Moment

• A re-entrant
pathway occurs
when an impulse
loops and results
in self-
perpetuating
impulse
formation.
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 Atrial Cell Problems
Atrial cells can also:
• fire continuously Atrial Fibrillation
from multiple foci
or
fire continuously Atrial Fibrillation
due to multiple
micro re-entrant
“wavelets”
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 Teaching Moment
Atrial tissue
Multiple micro re-
entrant “wavelets”
refers to wandering
small areas of
activation which
generate fine chaotic
impulses. Colliding
wavelets can, in turn,
generate new foci of
activation. 11 www.similima.com
 AV Junctional Problems

The AV junction can:

• fire continuously Paroxysmal
due to a looping Supraventricular
re-entrant circuit Tachycardia
• block impulses AV Junctional Blocks
coming from the
SA Node

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 Ventricular Cell Problems

Ventricular cells can:

• fire occasionally Premature Ventricular
from 1 or more foci Contractions (PVCs)
• fire continuously Ventricular Fibrillation
from multiple foci
• fire continuously Ventricular Tachycardia
due to a looping
re-entrant circuit
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 End of Module III
Normal Sinus Rhythm
Proceed to Module III Practice Quiz
on WebCT

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