The First Four Things to Look at on an EKG

CARDIOLOGY, ECG

Electrophysiologist, Dr. Bhakta, approaches ECGs clinically to get the most urgent things first before focusing on other details. He asks 4 questions in order.

  1. Rate – Is it fast or slow (i.e. tachycardia or bradycardia?)
  2. QRS – Wide or narrow?
  3. Rhythm – Regular / Irregular?
  4. Ischemia/Infarction present ? (ST segment changes, T wave changes?)

Wide complex tachycardias are impacting the pumping of the heart because it’s the ventricles that are that are pumping fast.

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