This two-lead rhythm strip shows a normal sinus rhythm at about 63 bpm.  The P waves are regular. After the sixth P-QRS, there is a non-conducted P wave.  The normal rhythm then resumes.  The two most common reasons for a non-conducted P wave in the midst of a normal sinus rhythm are 1) non-conducted PAC, and 2) Wenckebach conduction. The first is easy to rule out.  The non-conducted P wave is not premature, so it is not a PAC.  The second one is a little harder when we only have a short strip to look at.  We are conditioned to look for progressively-prolonging PR intervals until a QRS is "dropped".  In this case, the progression is in very tiny increments that are hard to see unless you zoom in and measure.  But they ARE progressively prolonging.  An easy hack:  measure the last PRI before the dropped beat and the first one after the pause.  You will see that the cycle ends on a longer PRI (about .28 seconds) and the new cycle starts up with a PR interval of about .20 seconds.  Fortunately, this conduction ratio will have very little effect on the patient's heart rate.

This ECG was obtained from a patient in a walk-in health clinic.  We do not have any other information on the patient.  We thank Joe Kelly for donating this interesting ECG to the GURU. 

IRREGULAR RHYTHM    If you march out the P waves, you will see that they are regular, at a rate of approximately 130 bpm.  But the QRS complexes are not regular, and there are fewer QRS complexes than P waves.  

WENCKEBACH CONDUCTION   Looking closely at the PR intervals, you will notice that they progressively prolong.  This “pushes” the QRS complexes progressively toward the right.  Eventually, the T wave – and the refractory period – will land on the next P wave.  That P wave will be unable to conduct to the wave, and no T wave of course, so the next P wave will conduct with a shorter PR interval.

We are including a short rhythm strip from this patient, with conduction marked with a laddergram. 

This 31-year-old man presented to the Emergency Dept. complaining of chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. His heart rate on admission was 120 - 130 bpm and irregular, and the monitor showed atrial fibrillation. His rate slowed with the administration of diltiazem. His 12-lead ECG shows the classic ST elevation of inferior wall M.I. in Leads II, III, and aVF. This patient also had JVD, bibasilar rales, orthopnea, and exertional dyspnea, signs of CHF. He had no history of acute M.I., CHF, or atrial fibrillation. He offered no history of drug use or medications.

This ECG is very useful for the basic student, in that the ST elevations are readily seen, and the atrial fib is definitely irregularly-irregular. For the more advanced student, the ST depression in V2 indicates posterior wall injury, while the flat ST segment in V1 indicates a possible right ventricular M.I.  While the posterior wall is trying to depress the ST segment, the right ventricle is trying to elevate it, resulting in flattening. Also, Lead III has a greater STE than Lead II, which has been shown to be a reliable indicator of RV infarction.  This should be confirmed with a V4 right, or all chest leads done on the right side. Right ventricular injury has been shown to increase mortality, and it also requires different management of hemodynamics.

It is unusual for a 31-year-old to experience acute M.I.  That makes it important to rule out other causes of ST elevation and chest pain.  Benign early repolarization and pericarditis should be considered.  Some of the ECG signs that FAVOR the diagnosis of STEMI are:  1) ST segments are straight, rather than curved downward like a smile.  2)  ST elevations are seen in related leads - leads oriented over the inferior wall and right ventricle (II, III, aVF, V1).  3) Reciprocal ST depressions are seen in leads known to be reciprocal to the inferior leads (I, aVL) and leads reciprocal to the "upper" inferior wall, or posterior wall.  4) There is an acute dysrhythmia (atrial fib).  Atrial fibrillation is a fairly common complication of acute M.I., and also leads to increased mortality, especially when associated with CHF.

This very interesting set of strips was donated to the ECG Guru by Arnel Carmona, well-known to many of you as the Administrator of the blog, "ECG Rhythms" and the FB page by the same name.  He is a frequent contributer to the FB page, "EKG Club", and is an ECG Guru!  This set of strips was previously posted to his blog and to the EKG Club.  In case you haven't already seen it, we will withhold the interpretation for now to give everyone a chance to comment.  In one week, we will post the interpretation.

SEE THE INTERPRETATION AT THIS LINK

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