ECG Interpretation Strips Word Associations

[Ava M.]

So I have my exam on ECG strips next week. I found a couple ECG simulator sites helpful but I'm still having difficulty trying to familiarize and memorize all these strips. What I found really helpful is using word associations to help identify the strips. For example, Atrial Flutter has a SAWTOOTH characteristic. My friend also came up with saying that Ventricular Tachycardia looks like ICICLES or LONG VAMPIRE FANGS. Anything else similar to this would really help. Please feel free to leave as much advice/tips regarding this topic or anything else that will help me distinguish the different strips from another. THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

[CBsMommy]

Agonal is the flat line you see on tv.

V-fib is chaos (it has an "ocean wave like appearance").

You've got the tombstone strip which is a massive ST elevation.

Otherwise, you are going to have to look at the strip to interpret it.

[Ava M.]

thanks!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

1st 2nd 3rd degree blocks.

1st degree - the husband starts to come home late every day at the same time ( prolonged pr interval)

2nd degree type one - husband starts coming home later and later each day until he doesnt come home at all ( pr increases in length until qrs is dropped

2nd type two - husband just stops coming home every 2 or third day but is never late

3rd - husband has had enough and just comes and goes as he pleases ( no relation between p and qrs )

[paramed1]

Look up "diagnosis Wenckebach" on Youtube.. the video is really well done and helped me learn heart blocks.

Also, remember for bundle branch blocks.. you turn your turn signal in your car down to signal to the left. If the "bunny ears" are down it is a left bundle branch block and vice versa. Also, remember that your 4-lead is non diagnostic, so you technically cannot not diagnose ST elevation in a 4- lead.

Atrial fibrillation is irregularly irregular and sometimes looks like it has ST elevation.

Your PVCs are "funky little beats" and can be monomorphic (all the same) or polymorphic (different)

Torsades de pointes= twisting of the points... so it's your typical v-tach only it looks small and big.

Thats all off the top of my head.

I hope this helps!

P.S. what rhythms do you have to identify?

[Ava M.]

Thanks everyone that was helpful! There's a bunch that we had to know but my teacher really stressed knowing V-tach, afib, aflutter, 3 degree heartblock, and svt