Just Catching Some Waves: ECG Interpretation—What Am I Looking At?

Overview:

Veterinary technicians play a key role in basic interpretation of the Electrocardiogram, as well as recognizing common cardiac arrhythmias of veterinary patients. Proper set-up, administration and monitoring of this important diagnostic tool is imperative in the initial assessment and stabilization of the emergent patient, the resuscitation of the arrested patient, the monitoring of the sedated and anesthetic patient, and the ongoing monitoring of the cardiac patient undergoing treatment. Several case studies will be discussed to challenge the attendees.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the blood flow through the heart as it pertains to the cardiac cycle.
• Review the electrical conductivity of the heart as it pertains to the cardiac cycle.
• Identify the definition of an electrocardiogram and its indications as a diagnostic tool.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the complete cardiac cycle and ECG waveform, identification of each wave and interval and what the heart is doing at each stage, using proper terminology.
• Demonstrate the proper procedure for performing an diagnostic electrocardiogram using standard patient position, proper placement of electrodes, proper environment with limited interference artifacts, production of a proper diagnostic rhythm strip using correct sensitivity, lead and speed.
• Identify and define the 8 steps to ECG interpretation – calculate the heart rate using the rhythm strip, determining the rhythm (what questions do you ask and what do you measure?).
• Recognition and identification of artifacts vs. arrhythmias.
• Identification of cardiac arrhythmias based on heart rate, origin/complex and conduction