Cardiology Teaching Package
A Beginners Guide to Normal Heart Function, Sinus Rhythm & Common Cardiac Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation
Image: Sinus Tachycardia (close up)
Although the rate is 140 bpm, it is possible to clearly identify the P wave, QRS complex and T wave.
Image: Sinus Tachycardia (full strip)
Atrial Tachycardia
Image: Sinus Tachycardia (close up)
Although the rate is 140 bpm, it is possible to clearly identify the P wave, QRS complex and T wave.
Image: Sinus Tachycardia (full strip)
Atrial Fibrillation
Image: Atrial Fibrillation (close up)
Image: Image: Atrial Fibrillation (full strip)
The above rhythm is AF with a rate of 140-160 bpm. Notice how the rhythm looks more regular the faster AF becomes. However, it is possible at this rate to recognise that it is irregular and that there is no P wave.
Some beginners might see one or two small waves immediately before the 3rd and 5th QRS complexes and think that they are P waves.
REMEMBER, if there is a P wave, it will look the same before each QRS complex . If it is sinus rhythm, the rhythm will also be regular.
