Premature Atrial Complex ECG Interpretation with Sample Strip
ECG Strip
Premature Atrial Complex Rhythm Strip Features
Rate: Usually normal but depends on underlying rhythmRhythm: Irregular
P Wave: Premature, positive and shape is abnormal
PR Interval: Normal or longer
QRS: 0.10 sec or less
This early impulse causes an early cardiac complex which disrupts the underlying rhythm.
Premature atrial contractions are a common arrhythmia with early beats. PACs are caused by ectopic atrial sites firing an electrical signal before the next normal SA node fires. PACs can occur in healthy young and elderly patients. Premature atrial contractions are also called premature atrial complexes.
External Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/heart_rhythm_disorders/page2.htm
MedicineNet
Authors and Sources
Authors and Reviewers
- ECG heart rhythm modules: Thomas O'Brien.
- ECG monitor simulation developer: Steve Collmann
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12 Lead Course: Dr. Michael Mazzini, MD.
- Spanish language ECG: Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
- Medical review: Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
- Medical review: Dr. Pedro Azevedo, MD, Cardiology
- Last Update: 11/8/2021
Sources
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Electrocardiography for Healthcare Professionals, 6th Edition
Kathryn Booth and Thomas O'Brien
ISBN10: 1265013470, ISBN13: 9781265013479
McGraw Hill, 2023 -
Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition
Dale Dublin
Cover Publishing Company -
EKG Reference Guide
EKG.Academy -
12 Lead EKG for Nurses: Simple Steps to Interpret Rhythms, Arrhythmias, Blocks, Hypertrophy, Infarcts, & Cardiac Drugs
Aaron Reed
Create Space Independent Publishing -
Heart Sounds and Murmurs: A Practical Guide with Audio CD-ROM 3rd Edition
Elsevier-Health Sciences Division
Barbara A. Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN -
The Virtual Cardiac Patient: A Multimedia Guide to Heart Sounds, Murmurs, EKG
Jonathan Keroes, David Lieberman
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin)
ISBN-10: 0781784425; ISBN-13: 978-0781784429 - Project Semilla, UCLA Emergency Medicine, EKG Training Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
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ECG Reference Guide
PracticalClinicalSkills.com
