This document summarizes different types of bradycardia and abnormal heart rhythms seen on electrocardiograms. It describes normal sinus rhythm and evaluates rhythms based on heart rate, P wave presence and morphology, and PR interval. Types of bradycardia discussed include sinus node dysfunction, atrioventricular blocks, junctional and ventricular escape rhythms, and atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response. Evaluation of sinus node function through electrophysiology studies is also covered. Diagrams of electrocardiograms are provided to illustrate different arrhythmias.
6. Rhythm evaluation on ECG
• Rate
– Regularity
• P wave ?
• P wave morphology
• P wave axis
– Normal P wave axis: upright in lead II
• PR interval (P & QRS relationship)
– Normal PR interval: 120~200ms
– Constant
7. Bradycardia
• Bradycardia: heart rate < 60bpm
• May be a normal physiological
phenomenon or result from a cardiac or
non-cardiac disorder
– During sleeping
– Athletes
• Symptoms:
– Dizziness, near syncope, syncope, ischemic
chest pain, and hypoxic seizures
10. Marked sinus bradycardia
• May be symptomatic if heart rate < 45bpm
• Usually related to
– Increased vagal tone
– Medication: b-blocker, Ca channel blocker
– Sick sinus syndrome (SA node dysfunction)
12. Sinus pause/arrest
• Transient cessation of impulse formation
at the sinoatrial node
• A prolonged pause without P activity
• The pause is unrelated to the length of the
P-P cycle
14. SA exit block
• A transient failure of sinus impulse
conduction to the atrial myocardium
• SA exit block
–1st
degree SA block
–2nd
degree SA block
• Type I: group beating, shortened PP interval
• Type II: the pause length was two times of PP
interval
–3rd
degree SA block: escape rhythm
18. Tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome
• Common in sick sinus syndrome (sinus
node dysfunction)
• Paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmia
followed by sinus bradycardia, sinus
pause or escape rhythm
20. EPS to evaluate sinus node function
• Sinus node recovery time (SNRT)
– SNRT < 1500 ms
– cSNRT (SNRT - BCL) < 550 ms
– SNRT/NSR < 150%
21. EPS to evaluate SA conduction
• Sinoatrial conduction time (SACT)
–45~125ms
22. Atrio-ventricular block
• First degree AV block
• Second degree AV block
–Mobitz type I
–Mobitz type II
–Advance AV block: 2:1, 3:1, 4:1,… AV
block
• Three degree (Complete) AV block
23. 1st
Degree AV block
• Simple prolongation of PR interval (> 0.2
seconds)
• No dropped QRS complexes
• All P waves are conducted
25. 2nd
degree Mobitz type I AV block
(Wenckebach phenomenon)
• PR interval progressively increases before
dropped QRS
• Intermittent dropping of the QRS
• RR interval may progressively decrease
• Grouping of QRS
32. Three degree (Complete) AV block
• Complete interruption of atrial conduction
• Independent atrial and ventricular rhythms
(AV dissociation)
• Regular PP and RR interval
• Atrial rate > ventricular rate
• P wave march through the QRS
complexes
36. Escape rhythm
• When the ventricles are not stimulated as
a result of automaticity or conduction
problems
• Marked sinus bradycardia, sinus pause,
complete AV block
• Junctional vs. ventricular escape rhythm
–Junctional: narrow, rate: 40~60bpm
–Ventricular: wide, rate: 20~40bpm
40. Atrial fibrillation with slow
ventricular response
• Atrial rate in Af: 350~700bpm
• The ventricular rate depends on the AV
conduction ability
• Impaired AV conduction
* ESC Rate For elderly with EHRA 1 (IA) Rhythm For EHRA 2 after rate control (IB) For AF+HF (IIaB) Difficult group: long history of AF, older age, more severe associated CVD, other associated medical conditions, and enlarged LA size. Could be ultimate goal, if so, continue rate control Usefulness and benefit are lacking Opportunity exists early in the course CHF rate: no different in AFFIRM, RACE, or AF-CHF AFFIRM post hoc: deleterious effect of antiarrhythmics (mortality increase of 49%) may offset the benefit of sinus rhythm (53% reduction in mortality) RACE analysis: underlying heart Dz effect prognosis more AF-CHF: no