Learning rhythms

Specialties CCU

Published

How do you tell the difference between atrial flutter and sinus tachycardia. I am looking at a rhythm strip and am finding it difficult. Can someone help?

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Sinus tach has P waves, hence the word sinus, and PR intervals are within normal limit. Atrial flutter does not have P wave but instead has saw-toothed rhythm before QRS.

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Hello Jazz5:

I know of a great site that would be a good refresher for someone or the start of a good basis in basic EKG interpretation.

---> http://www.aacn.org/e-learning

Now I am not sure if that particular site is open to all meaning non-aacn members, but worth a look-see, no?

Another good reference is the book: Interpreting Difficult ECGs: A Rapid Reference Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2006 ISBN: 1-58255-447-1

or go to http://www.lww.com

athena

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Specializes in CTICU.

As mentioned, having a P before every QRS complex = sinus: http://edr.medctr.ohio-state.edu/Downloads/ACLS_FILES/Rhythms,%20characteristics,%20and%20examples.pdf

Having the typical "saw tooth" pattern = atrial flutter: http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/mml/ecg_atrial_flutter.html

Lots of pics of various ECGs here: http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/image_index/index.html#Afib

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