The ECG provides important information about the electrical activity of the heart. Abnormalities can interfere with the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively, which is needed for tissue oxygenation. Normally, the SA node has the greatest degree of automaticity and therefore paces the heart. The AV node serves as the backup pacemaker in case the SA node fails. Many different arrhythmias can occur in the heart and interfere with cardiac function. One of the most important abnormalities to watch for is the elevation of the ST segment; this indicates myocardial ischemia and may be life threatening. Chronic lung disease also has the ability to alter the electrical activity of the heart, with right axis deviation being most common among patients with right heart failure because of chronic hypoxemia.
What Is an ECG? (Please review the Interactive Lecture on ECG by clicking on the link below)http://d2jw81rkebrcvk.cloudfront.net/assets.navigate/respiratory_care/JBL_RC/course/lesson_player/index.html?lesson_id=course2/lesson13
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Get Help Now!• An ECG (also called an EKG) is an indirect measurement of the electrical activity within theheart. • The purpose of using 12 leads is to obtain 12 different views of the electrical activity in the heart and therefore a more complete picture.What Is the Value of an ECG? • The ECG provides valuable information about the cardiac status of a patient presenting with signs andsymptoms suggestive of heart disease. • It is important to note that the ECG tracing does not measure the pumping ability of the heart. • The probability of any patient having an acute problem such as myocardial infarction cannot be predicted from a resting ECG tracing.When Should an ECG Be Obtained? • It is reasonable to obtain an ECG whenever the patient has signs and symptoms suggestive of an acute or chronic cardiac disorder such as myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. • An ECG is often used as a screening tool to determine the patientâ€s health status before major surgery.
Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology • The heart comprises two sides, left and right, and four chambers: two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. • Cardiac muscle is referred to as the myocardium. • The electrical activity of the heart is initiated in the sinus or sinoatrial (SA) node located in the right atrium. • The SA node normally has the greatest degree of automaticity and therefore normally controls the pace of the heart rate. The AV junction acts as the backup pacemaker. • The SA node is strongly influenced by the autonomic nervous system. • Once the SA node initiates the electrical signal, the impulse spreads across the atria in a wavelikefashion. • After the electrical impulse passes through the atria it reaches the atrioventricular (AV) junction. • The AV junction normally only guides the electrical impulse from the atria into the ventricles. • After the electrical impulse leaves the AV node, it travels rapidly through the bundle of His and then into the left and right bundle branches. • The myocardium must receive a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to pump blood effectively. • Blockage of one of the coronary arteries leads to ischemia and infarction of a portion of the myocardium. This leads to arrhythmia and reduced cardiac output in most cases.Causes and Manifestations of Arrhythmias • Disturbances in cardiac conduction are called arrhythmias. • The application and improved delivery of oxygen often is a key factor in reducing or eliminatingcardiac irritability. • Causes include hypoxia, ischemia, sympathetic stimulation, drugs, electrolyte imbalances, rate, andstretch.Basic ECG Waves • The sudden loss of the negative charge within the cell is called depolarization. • The return of the negative electrical charge is repolarization. • Depolarization of the atria creates the initial wave of electrical activity detected on the ECG tracing, known as the P wave. • Depolarization of the ventricles is represented by the QRS complex. • The QRS complex is important to evaluate in the ECG because it reflects the electrical activity of theventricles. • Ventricular repolarization is seen as the T wave. The T wave is normally upright and asymmetricallyrounded. • A small deflection known as the U wave is sometimes seen. The U wave is thought to representthe final phase of ventricular repolarization.ECG Paper and Measurements
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The post The ECG provides important information about the electrical activity of the heart. Abnormalities can interfere with the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively, which is needed for tissue oxygenation. Normally, the SA node has the greatest degree of automaticity and therefore paces the heart. The AV node serves as the backup pacemaker in case the SA node fails. Many different arrhythmias can occur in the heart and interfere with cardiac function. One of the most important abnormalities to watch for is the elevation of the ST segment; this indicates myocardial ischemia and may be life threatening. Chronic lung disease also has the ability to alter the electrical activity of the heart, with right axis deviation being most common among patients with right heart failure because of chronic hypoxemia. appeared first on My Nursing Papers.
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