Welcome to the EKG Elective

Description

The EKG Elective is a 1-2 week block or longitudinal elective experience working to improve your EKG reading skills. The time will be spent working asynchronously studying EKGs and then meeting with Dr. Bernheisel 4-5 times to review important EKG Topics. The asynchronous work will include completing EKG packets provided by Dr. Bernheisel, reviewing EKG Weekly Video Podcast, and reading an EKG book of the resident’s choice.

Please contact Dr. Bernheisel if you have additional questions and submit an elective request form if you interested!

*If doing as longitudinal it may not be longer than 6 months.

Topic areas and Goals and Objectives

  1. EKG Basics

    1. Describe a normal 12 lead EKG:

      1. Vector for each lead (Lead I,II, III, AVR, AVL, AVF)

      2. The electrical activity/process occurring for each wave and segment (P wave, PR, QRS, ST, T-wave, TP)

  2. Rate and Rhythm

    1. Describe the two major methods to identify the rate. 

    2. How can the rate assist in identifying the rhythm?

    3. Describe the characteristic findings for the following arrhythmia:

      1. Sinus rhythm

      2. Sinus dysrhythmia

      3. Atrial Fibrillation

      4. Atrial Flutter

      5. Multifocal Tachycardia

      6. Wandering Pacemaker

    4. Describe the characteristic findings for the following arrhythmias:

      1. First degree block

      2. Second degree block (Mobitz I and II)

      3. Third degree block

      4. AV-nodal re-entry Tachycardia (sometimes called pSVT)

      5. Atrioventricular re-entery tachycardia 

      6. Accelerated junctional rhythm

      7. Junctional escape rhythm

      8. Ventricular escape rhythm

  3. Axis

    1. Describe the characteristic findings for the following:

      1. Right and Left Axis Deviation

      2. Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

        1. Right strain pattern

      3. Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

        1. Left strain pattern

  4. Blocks

    1. Describe the characteristic findings for the following:

      1. RBBB, Incomplete RBBB

      2. LBBB, Incomplete LBBB

      3. Left anterior Fascicular block

      4. Left Posterior Fasciular Block

      5. Bifasicular blocks and trifasicular blocks

  5. Emergent EKGs

    1. Describe the characteristic findings for the following:

      1. Digoxin effect and toxicity

      2. STEMI (Anterior, Septal, Lateral, Posterior, Inferior, Main)

      3. de Winter’s Waves

      4. Wellens Syndrome

      5. Brugada’s syndrome

  6. Electrolyte abnormalities

    1. Describe the characteristic findings for the following:

      1. Hyper and hypokalemia

      2. Hyper and hypocalcemia

      3. Hypomagnesium