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ECG Case 046

Middle-aged patient presenting with palpitations. Describe the ECG

TOP 100 ECG QUIZ LITFL 046

Describe and interpret this ECG

ECG ANSWER and INTERPRETATION

This ECG contains multiple diagnostic features for ventricular tachycardia:; dominant R wave in V1/V2 and therefore a RBBB morphology (compare this with ECG 047)

  • Regular broad complex tachycardia at ~150 bpm.
  • Very broad QRS complexes (~200 ms).
  • Northwest axis (-120 degrees) with positive QRS in aVR.
  • Time from onset of the QRS complex to nadir of the S-wave > 100ms in any of the precordial leads (Brugada 1991)
  • Notching/slurring of the downslope of the S wave in V1/V2 (Josephson’s sign 1988)

Northwest Axis

ECG VT Northwest Axis

Dominant R Wave in V1 or V2 – RBBB Morphology

Note the presence of morphology criteria favouring VT over RBBB such as Tall monophasic R wave in V1; Dominant S wave in V6

Lead V1 and V2 morphology

ECG VT V1 R wave RS interval RBBB morphology 700

ECG VT V2 RS interval RBBB morphology 700

Lead V6 morphology

ECG VT V6 R-S ratio RBBB morphology 500

This pattern in V1 and V6 is very different from the expected morphology in RBBB. RSR’ pattern in V1 and Dominant R wave with wide slurred S wave in V6

RBBB-typical-morphology
RSR’ pattern in V1 with RBBB
RBBB-typical-morphology-in-V6
Dominant R wave with wide slurred S wave in V6
ECG RBBB William MORROW Morrow


CLINICAL PEARLS

Tips for Spotting VT when RBBB morphology present

[NB. RBBB morphology = QRS > 120ms with dominant R wave in V1]

Suspect VT in any patient with a regular broad complex tachycardia (especially if > 160 ms wide).

Look at aVR
  • Positive QRS complex?
  • Leads I and aVF negative?
  • If yes to both -> northwest axis is present -> probable VT.
Look at V1
  • Monophasic R wave; qR wave; or taller left rabbit ear? -> probable VT.
  • RSR’ pattern with taller right rabbit ear? -> possible SVT with RBBB.
Look at V6
  • Dominant S wave (R/S ratio < 1)? -> probable VT.
  • Dominant R wave with wide slurred S wave -> possible SVT with RBBB.
If still uncertain…review the ECG for:
ECG VT AV dissociation

AV dissociation: superimposed P waves at a different rate to the QRS complexes


ECG VT Fusion beat capture beat

The first of the narrower complexes is a fusion beat, the next two are capture beats.


For more tips on spotting VT, read this article.


TOP 100 ECG Series


Emergency Physician in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine in Sydney, Australia. He has a passion for ECG interpretation and medical education | ECG Library |

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