QRS axis change

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I am working on a cardiovascular case study (Ugggh...) and the notes say that there was a change in the QRS axis on this ECG compared with the previous month. I have tried finding this in my texts, med. dictionary, and online. I know that my head is overloaded with notes and information and everything else right now so maybe I am finding it but not (if you know what I mean). Can someone explain what this is and what causes a change. PLEASE?!?

I had this in the general nursing student area and someone told me to move it here...

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

The ekg axis change means that the heart has suffered remodeling usually, from my understanding of it. The EKG sees the electrical signal of the heart from 12 different viewpoints. This is the electrical activity that causes the heart to beat. It moves along a predictable pathway, and depending on whether the impulse is moving toward the EKG lead or away from it, then you will have either a positive or negative deflection of the qrs complex.

If there is a change in that, it indicates that the heart has shifted or changed shape, thus shifting the direction that the impulse is moving relative to where the leads are placed. Heart failure will cause the heart to change its shape. It will enlarge and remodel the heart, causing the electricity to move at a different angle. The EKG leads are like fixed camaras pointed toward the heart, and if the heart changes shape, then it will get a differnt picture. Maybe, instead of the impulse going directly at a certain lead, it will come at an angle. That will make the QRS complex defect differently on the EKG reading.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Here is a webpage that lists reasons for axis deviation. There are a lot of them!

http://www.ecglibrary.com/axis.html

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Specializes in CVICU, ICU, RRT, CVPACU.

We just had a discussion within the last month on here. Search for my name, and you should be able to find it easily since I dont have that many posts. If you look at leads I, II, or III on your ECG you should see a difference in the deflection of the ECG to either MORE positive or MORE negative............basically a difference in the height of the QRS. This means the electrical impulse has changed direction and is is pointing MORE toward these leads or away from them depending on what the axis change is.

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Specializes in CTICU.

We might be able to point you in the right direction, or confirm what you're thinking if you give a brief pt history.

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