Intraventricular Conduction Delay (QRS widening)
Definition of QRS widening
QRS duration > 100 ms in the presence of a supraventricular rhythm. Most commonly due to bundle branch block or left ventricular hypertrophy.
The most important life-threatening causes of QRS widening are:
Causes of Intraventricular Conduction Delay
Fascicular and bundle-branch blocks
- Left anterior fascicular block
- Left posterior fascicular block
- Left bundle branch block
- Right bundle branch block
- Bifascicular block
- Trifascicular block
Ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
- Biventricular enlargement
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
Electrolyte abnormalities
Toxins
- Sodium-channel blocker toxicity (e.g. TCA overdose) – wide QRS plus positive R’ wave in aVR.
Pre-excitation
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome – wide QRS plus delta waves.
Arrhythmogenic cardiac conditions
- Brugada syndrome – localised QRS widening in V1-2 with RBBB morphology.
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (AVRD) – localised QRS widening in V1-2 plus epsilon waves and variable signs of right ventricular hypertrophy.
“Non-specific” IVCD
- Not due to any of the causes above — Before making this diagnosis, be sure to check the serum potassium level and scrutinise the ECG for any signs of TCA toxicity.
Differential Diagnosis
Ventricular Rhythms
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
- Ventricular escape rhythm
- Ventricular-paced rhythm
References
- Edhouse J, Thakur RK, Khalil JM. ABC of clinical electrocardiography. Conditions affecting the left side of the heart. BMJ. 2002 May 25;324(7348):1264-7
Advanced Reading
Online
- Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Mastery: Yellow Belt online course. Understand ECG basics. Medmastery
- Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Mastery: Blue Belt online course: Become an ECG expert. Medmastery
- Kühn P, Houghton A. ECG Mastery: Black Belt Workshop. Advanced ECG interpretation. Medmastery
- Rawshani A. Clinical ECG Interpretation ECG Waves
- Smith SW. Dr Smith’s ECG blog.
Textbooks
- Zimmerman FH. ECG Core Curriculum. 2023
- Mattu A, Berberian J, Brady WJ. Emergency ECGs: Case-Based Review and Interpretations, 2022
- Straus DG, Schocken DD. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography 13e, 2021
- Brady WJ, Lipinski MJ et al. Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine. 1e, 2020
- Mattu A, Tabas JA, Brady WJ. Electrocardiography in Emergency, Acute, and Critical Care. 2e, 2019
- Hampton J, Adlam D. The ECG Made Practical 7e, 2019
- Kühn P, Lang C, Wiesbauer F. ECG Mastery: The Simplest Way to Learn the ECG. 2015
- Grauer K. ECG Pocket Brain (Expanded) 6e, 2014
- Surawicz B, Knilans T. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric 6e, 2008
- Chan TC. ECG in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care 1e, 2004
LITFL Further Reading
- ECG Library Basics – Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation
- ECG A to Z by diagnosis – ECG interpretation in clinical context
- ECG Exigency and Cardiovascular Curveball – ECG Clinical Cases
- 100 ECG Quiz – Self-assessment tool for examination practice
- ECG Reference SITES and BOOKS – the best of the rest
ECG LIBRARY
Emergency Physician in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine in Sydney, Australia. He has a passion for ECG interpretation and medical education | ECG Library |
Adult/Paediatric Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee in Melbourne, Australia. Special interests in diagnostic and procedural ultrasound, medical education, and ECG interpretation. Co-creator of the LITFL ECG Library. Twitter: @rob_buttner