Cardiology is Cool!
Today was the first day of my cardiology rotation. Basically, we learned some quick and dirty ways to read EKGs. Here is an abbreviated synopsis of what I learned (okay, so I really learned all this before, but damn if I don’t keep forgetting it!):
1) Which leads represent which portions of the heart:
AVL + L1 = lateral wall
L2 + L3 + AVF = inferior wall
AVR = right wall
V1 + V2 = septum
V2 + V3 + V4 = inferior wall
V4 + V5 + V6 = Lateral wall
2) What to look at:
a) Rate – 300 / number of boxes = rate
inverted p = ectopic atrial rhythm
upright p = sinus rhythm
b) Rhythm – regular = R intervals the same
if rhythm is irregular, number of QRS X 6 = rate
c) Axis – look at L1 + AVF
if L1 + AVF are both upright = normal
if AVF is down and L1 is up = left axis deviation
if both AVF and L1 are down = left axis deviation
d) P wave and PR interval – p wave represents the depolarization of the atria and it should be less than 110 milliseconds. The PR interval represents conduction through the AV node and should be between 120 and 200 milliseconds.
e) QRS – look at 4 parameters – width (should be less than half a box), presence of Q waves (over 3 mm tall or bigger than 40 milliseconds wide is significant), transition zone (R should equal S), and voltage
f) ST segment
g) T and U waves
h) QT interval
Okay, I left out some stuff there, but you get the gist. Also, please do comment if I missed something important, or wrote something incorrect. I was writing furiously and could have written something down wrong! More to come on this topic soon!
My name is Kendra and I am a newly minted doctor about to begin my residency in Psychiatry at 
Good job! You make EKGs look too easy
nice pics by the way.
Good job! You make EKGs look too easy
nice pics by the way.
is it too late to vote??! i say brown (knowing that it won’t stay that way for too long anyway)– it’s more eco-friendly and au natural
OMG Kendra! Your hair! (Yes, I’ve been away too long. Not to worry, I’ll stalk you ardently from now on. Where’d you keep those restraining orders again?) You look like me now (and since I am obviously teh hotness, that’s a good thing)
I’m horrible with EKGs (or ECGs, as they’re known over here) so thanks for the post – saves me going through textbooks. Horrible, horrible things – my last one tried to bite me. Or was that just the rum?
Studying cardiology if fun : ) The key to remembering is to periodically do maintenance review. If you do this you will not forget it and keep building on your knowledge. I have been bad about reviewing this recently and I have forgotten stuff. Time to review and bring back that knowledge : )
I miss you! Yes, my hair did a vanishing act. For some reason, the
combination of saki and hot weather makes me want to shave my head.
Don’t worry, I cancelled the restraining orders, so you’re good to go.
You freakin brits and your strange spelling of crap. Oh, what a cool
colour on that theatre! I will go buy some nappies for my baby. You
guys are just plain weird. Or is it wierd?
it’s sake not saki. please. i’m very specific about that one.
Midori, you have a fake British accent, so I can’t take you seriously. Go put on your thongs and go for a walk!
I thought SALI was the way to go.
Septal V1, V2
Anterior V3,V4
Lateral V5,V6,AVL,L1
Inferior L2,L3,AVF