Second Degree Heart Block Type I ECG Interpretation


Description

  • Also known as Wenckebach Phenomenon; second degree heart block ECG dysrhythmia is typically stable and often temporary with the patient remaining asymptomatic as long as the ventricular response remains within the “normal” range.
  • The unique feature (hallmark) of this dysrhythmia is the presence of a prolonging P-R interval from one cardiac complex to the next, until it reaches a point where the QRS complex is non-conducted ( blocked or more simply missing). Then the pattern starts over again.

Example

  • In this dysrhythmia, if the third QRS complex is dropped/blocked, then it will always be the third complex that is blocked before re-setting in a repetitious pattern.
  • It is important to note the following:
    • The P – P intervals are regular and the R to R intervals are irregular.
    • here are more P waves than QRS complexes. Report the rate of each separately.

second degree heart block ecg image 104

Practice Strip

second degree heart block ECG image 105

Analyze this tracing using the five steps of rhythm analysis.

  • Show Answer
    • Rhythm: Atria – Regular, Ventricles - Irregular
    • Rate: Atria – 56, Ventricles - 40
    • P Wave: Upright
    • PR interval: Variable, progressive
    • QRS: 0.10 sec
    • Interpretation: Second Degree Heart Block Type I





  • Authors and Sources

    Authors and Reviewers


    Sources

    • 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
    • ECG Reference Guide
      PracticalClinicalSkills.com






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