What is not visible on the ecg. Studying the readings of the ecg of the heart Can ecg be wrong in a child

Accidental misplacement of limb electrodes is a common cause of ECG abnormalities and can simulate various pathologies such as ectopic atrial rhythm, dilatation of the heart chambers, or myocardial ischemia.
When replacing the limb electrodes (LA, RA, LL) without changing the neutral electrode (RL / N), the Einthoven triangle turns out to be "inverted" by 180 degrees or rotates, as a result of which the positions of the leads are inverted or remain unchanged (depending on their initial position and vector).
Exchanging one limb lead with a neutral electrode (RL / N) violates the Einthoven triangle and distorts the zero signal received from the central Wilson terminal, changes appearance leads from the limbs and chest leads on the ECG. Limb leads can suffer grossly, taking on the appearance of other leads or being reduced to a contour.

The relationship between limb leads and electrodes is described by Einthoven's triangle.

Each lead has a specific magnitude and direction (vector), which are obtained by adding or subtracting voltages from the recording of the electrodes.

Bipolar leads.

Lead I - voltage difference between electrodes LA and RA (LA - RA), directed to LA at zero degrees.
Lead II - the voltage difference between the LL and RA electrodes (LL - RA), directed to LL by +60 degrees.
Lead III is the voltage difference between the LL and LA electrodes (LL - LA), directed to LL by +120 degrees.

Enhanced unipolar leads.

Lead aVL directed towards the LA electrode (-30 degrees), calculated as: LA- (RA + LL) / 2.
Lead aVF directed towards the LL electrode (+90 degrees), calculated as: LL- (LA + RA) / 2.
Lead aVR is directed to the RA electrode (-150 degrees), calculated as: RA- (LA + LL) / 2.

Wilson Central Terminal (WCT).

This non-directional "zero lead" is calculated as the average of three limb leads: WCT \u003d 1/3 (RA + LA + LL).

Upper limb electrode exchange (LA / RA)

It is the most common dislocation of electrodes from the limbs.

When exchanging electrodes from upper limbs LA and RA, Einthoven's triangle is rotated 180 degrees around the axis formed by lead aVF.

Normal vector complex QRS in lead I has a direction of 0 degrees and roughly coincides with the QRS vector of lead V6, which is also directed to the left.

  • Lead I becomes inverted.
  • The QRS complex vector in lead I does not match with lead V6.
  • Leads II and III are swapped.
  • Leads aVL and aVR are swapped.
  • PQRST complex in lead aVR USUALLYbecomes positive.
  • Lead aVF remains unchanged.
How to quickly spot an LA / RA swap?
Lead I is completely inverted
Lead aVR often becomes positive.
There may be a deviation of the axis to the right.

Hand-held electrode inversion. Note the inverted P waves, QRS complex, and T wave in lead I in the absence of dextrocardia - this is a pathognomonic sign of hand electrode inversion. As a result, the main QRS vector in lead I (down) does not match lead V6 (up), even though the two leads are similarly patient-oriented. Finally, notice the unexpectedly "normal" appearance of the P-QRS-T complex in lead aVR - another sure sign of hand electrode inversion.

LA / RA swapping can mimic dextrocardia.
However, unlike dextrocardia, normal R-wave progression remains in the chest leads.

Exchange of electrodes left hand - left leg (LA / LL).

It is the most difficult to diagnose the dislocation of electrodes from the limbs, especially in the absence of a baseline ECG.Even a comparison with previous ECGs does not make one think about dislocation, since manifestations at first glance seem to be possible or associated with ischemia.

When the LA and LL electrodes are exchanged, Einthoven's triangle is rotated 180 degrees around the axis formed by lead aVR.

  • Lead III becomes inverted.
  • Leads I and II swap places.
  • Leads aVL and aVF are swapped.
  • Lead aVR remains unchanged.
The lateral leads (I, aVL) become inferior, and the inferior leads (II, aVF) become lateral.
How to quickly spot the LA / LL permutation?
Lead III is completely inverted(P waves, QRS complexes, T waves).
The P waves are unexpectedly larger in lead I than in lead II (the opposite is normal).

Exchange of electrodes right hand - left leg (RA / LL).

When the RA and LL electrodes are exchanged, Einthoven's triangle is rotated 180 degrees around the axis formed by lead aVL.
This has the following effects:
  • Lead II becomes inverted.
  • Leads I and III become inverted and swap positions.
  • Leads aVR and AVF are swapped.
  • Lead aVL remains unchanged.
How to quickly spot the RA / LL permutation?
Leads I, II, III and aVF are completely inverted(P waves, QRS complexes, T waves).
The P waves are unexpectedly larger in lead I than in lead II (the opposite is normal). In lead aVR, all complexes are positive.

Exchange of electrodes right hand - right leg (RA / RL (N)).

When the RA and RL electrodes are exchanged, the Einthoven triangle collapses and becomes like a "slice"with LA electrode on top. R electrodesA and LL now record almost identical voltages, which makes the difference between them insignificant (i.e. lead II goes to zero ).
Lead aVL is directed from the base of the "slice" to the apex approximately parallel to lead III.

Displacement of the neutral electrode causes leads aVR and aVF to become mathematically identical, so they look the same.

This has the following effects:
  • Lead I becomes an inverted lead III.
  • Lead II as a flat line (zero potential).
  • Lead III remains unchanged.
  • Lead aVL looks like an inverted lead III.
  • Leads aVR and aVF become the same.
Since the neutral electrode has been moved, chest leads can also be distorted.
How to quickly spot the RA / RL permutation?
Lead II appears as a flat line.

Exchange of electrodes left hand - right leg (LA / RL (N)).

When the LA and RL electrodes are exchanged, the Einthoven triangle collapses and becomes like a "slice" with the RA electrode at the top. Electrodes LA and LL now record almost identical voltages, which makes the difference between them insignificant (i.e. lead I II becomes zero ).
Lead aVR goes from the base of the "slice" to the apex approximately parallel to lead II.
Displacement of the neutral electrode causes leads aVL and aVF to become mathematically identical, so they look the same.



This has the following effects:
  • Lead I becomes similar to lead II.
  • Lead II remains unchanged.
  • Lead III as a flat line (zero potential).
  • Lead aVR looks like an inverted lead II.
  • Leads aVL and aVF become the same.
lead I becomes equal to zero ).
Leads II, III, and aVF become the same (equivalent to an inverted lead III) as they all now measure the potential difference between the left arm and legs.
Displacement of the neutral electrode causes leads aVL and aVR to become mathematically identical, so they look the same.
This has the following effects:
  • Lead I in the form of a flat line (zero potential).
  • Lead III is inverted.
  • Lead II corresponds to lead III (inverted).
  • Leads aVR and aVL become the same.
  • Lead aVF corresponds to lead III (inverted).
Since the neutral electrode has been repositioned, chest voltages may also be distorted.
How to quickly notice the change of the LA-LL / RA-RL electrodes?
Lead I appears as a flat line.

Exchange of electrodes left leg - right leg (LL / RL).

When moving the electrodes away from lower limbs, Einthoven's triangle remains unchanged, since the electrical signals from each leg are almost identical.

The ECG remains unchanged.


Conditions of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, atherosclerosis, myocardiopathy, rheumatic heart disease, arrhythmias of various origins, hypertension - all these cardiac diseases occur in people over forty years of age.

Heart disease occurs due to the negative impact on the human body of certain hereditary factors, chronic overstrain (emotional or physical), physical trauma, stress or neurosis.

Also, frequent causes of the development of one or another cardiovascular pathology can become: an improper lifestyle, poor nutrition, bad habits, disturbances in sleep and wakefulness.

But, today, we would like to talk not about that. In today's publication, we propose to pay attention to the electrocardiography (ECG) procedure, with the help of which physicians are able to timely detect these pathologies.

What is this diagnostic technique? What does the cardiogram show to doctors? How informative and safe is the procedure under consideration?

Maybe instead of a banal cardiogram (ECG), it is better to conduct ultrasonography (Ultrasound) of the heart? Let's figure it out.

What deviations in the body can be recorded?

First of all, it should be noted that the electrocardiography (ECG) procedure is deservedly recognized as the main diagnostic technique for the timely detection of heart pathologies (all of cardio-vascular system). The procedure is widely used in modern cardiological practice.

The muscular structure of the human heart functions under the constant control of the so-called pacemaker, which originates in the heart itself. In this case, its own pacemaker generates electrical impulses that are transmitted through the conducting system of the heart to its various parts.

On any version of the cardiogram (ECG), these electrical impulses are recorded and recorded, which make it possible to judge the functioning of the organ.

In other owls, we can say that the ECG captures and records a kind of language of the heart muscle.

According to the resulting deviations of specific teeth on the cardiogram (recall, these are the P, Q, R, S and T waves), physicians are able to judge what pathology underlies the unpleasant symptoms felt by the patient.

With the help of various ECG options, doctors can recognize the following heart conditions:


In addition, with the help of electrocardiography, it is often possible to fix: signs of a heart aneurysm, the development of extrasystole, the occurrence inflammatory process in the myocardium (myocarditis, endocarditis), the development of acute conditions of myocardial infarction or heart failure.

Are the results of different ECG techniques different?

It is no secret to anyone that electrocardiography in different situations can be carried out in different ways, or rather, doctors can use different methods of ECG research.

It is quite understandable that the data of different variants of electrocardiographic research may differ slightly.

The most common electrocardiographic studies can be considered:

What diseases can be diagnosed during the study?

It should be said that various options for heart electrocardiography can be used not only as primary diagnosisallowing to fix initial stages cardiac disease.

Often, electrocardiographic studies of various types can be carried out in order to monitor and control an already existing cardiac pathology.

So such studies can be assigned to patients with the following pathologies:


And, of course, this study heart often allows you to answer the questions - why patients have this or that unpleasant symptomatology - shortness of breath, chest pain, heart rhythm disturbances.

Data indicating the need for additional analyzes

Unfortunately, it should be understood that the electrocardiogram cannot be considered the only correct criterion for establishing a particular cardiac diagnosis.

To establish a truly correct diagnosis, doctors always use several diagnostic criteria: it is mandatory to conduct a visual examination of the patient, palpation, auscultation, percussion, take anamnesis and conduct electrocardiography.

Provided that the cardiography data are confirmed by specific (corresponding to the alleged pathology) symptoms in the patient, the data obtained during the examination, the diagnosis is made quite quickly.

But, if the cardiologist observes a certain discrepancy between the patient's existing complaints and the electrocardiography indicators, the patient may be prescribed additional studies.

Additional studies (ultrasound, echocardiography, MRI, CT or others) may also be necessary if the electrocardiogram remains normal, and the patient presents some complaints about intense manifestations of a problem of unclear or dubious origin.

Ultrasound examination and electrocardiogram: differences in results

The technique of examining the heart muscle using ultrasound (ultrasound) has long been used in cardiology. Ultrasound diagnostics of the heart muscle, in contrast to the electrocardiographic study, allows you to notice not only some deviations in the functioning of the organ.

Ultrasound of the heart muscle is considered an informative, non-invasive and completely safe procedure that allows you to assess the structure, size, deformations and other characteristics of the heart muscle.

In this case, ultrasound of the heart muscle can be prescribed in the following cases:


When conducting ultrasound, doctors are able to determine the morphology of the heart muscle, assess the size of the entire organ, notice the volume of the heart cavities, understand the thickness of the walls, in what condition the heart valves are.

The term "ECG" stands for "electrocardiogram". It is a graphical recording of the electrical impulses of the heart.

The human heart has its own pacemaker. The pacemaker is located directly in the right atrium. This place is called the sinus node. The pulse that comes from this node is called the sinus pulse (it will help to decipher what the ECG will show). It is this source of impulses that is located in the very heart and generates electrical impulses itself. Then they are sent to the conducting system. The impulses in people who do not have cardiac pathology pass evenly along the conducting cardiac system. All these outgoing impulses are recorded and displayed on the cardiogram tape.

From this it follows that the ECG - electrocardiogram - is a graphically recorded impulses of the cardiac system. Will ECG show heart problems? ? Of course, this is a great and quick way to identify any heart disease... Moreover, the electrocardiogram is the most basic method in diagnosing pathology and various heart diseases.

Created by the Englishman A. Waller back in the seventies of the XIX century. Over the next 150 years, the apparatus that records the electrical activity of the heart has undergone changes and improvements. Although the principle of operation has not changed.

Modern ambulance teams are necessarily supplied with portable ECG devices, with the help of which you can very quickly make an ECG, saving valuable time. An ECG can even diagnose a person. An ECG will show heart problems: from acute cardiac pathologies to In these cases, not a minute can be lost, and therefore a cardiogram made on time can save a person's life.

Doctors of the ambulance teams themselves decipher the ECG tape and in case acute pathology, if the device shows a heart attack, then, turning on the siren, the patient is quickly taken to the clinic, where he will be immediately provided urgent help... But in case of problems, urgent hospitalization is not necessary, everything will depend on what the ECG shows.

In what cases is an electrocardiogram prescribed?

If a person has the symptoms described below, then the cardiologist sends him to an electrocardiogram:

  • swelling of the legs;
  • fainting;
  • there is shortness of breath;
  • sternum pain, back pain, neck pain.

An ECG is necessarily assigned to pregnant women for examination, people in preparation for surgery, medical examination.

Also, ECG results are required in case of a trip to a sanatorium or if you need permission for any sports activities.

For prophylaxis and if a person has no complaints, doctors recommend taking an electrocardiogram once a year. This can often help diagnose asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities.

What the ECG will show

On the tape itself, the cardiogram can show a set of waves, as well as drops. These teeth are designated in large Latin letters P, Q, R, S and T. When decoding, the cardiologist examines and deciphers the width, height of the teeth, their size and the intervals between them. According to these indicators, it is possible to determine general state muscles of the heart.

With the help of an electrocardiogram, various pathologies of the heart can be detected. Will an ECG show a heart attack? Definitely yes.

What determines the electrocardiogram

  • Heart rate - HR.
  • Rhythms of contractions of the heart.
  • Heart attack.
  • Arrhythmias.
  • Ventricular hypertrophy.
  • Ischemic and cardystrophic changes.

The most disappointing and serious diagnosis on an electrocardiogram is myocardial infarction. In diagnostics heart attacks ECG plays an important and even major role. With the help of a cardiogram, the zone of necrosis, localization and depth of lesions of the heart area are revealed. Also, when decoding the tape, the cardiogram can be recognized and distinguished acute heart attack myocardium from aneurysm and past scars. Therefore, when undergoing a medical examination, it is imperative to do a cardiogram, because it is very important for a doctor to know what the ECG will show.

Most often, a heart attack is associated directly with the heart. But it is not so. A heart attack can occur in any organ. Happens (when lung tissue partially or completely dies if there is a blockage of the arteries).

There is a cerebral infarction (in other words ischemic stroke) - the death of brain tissue, which can be caused by thrombosis or rupture of cerebral vessels. With a cerebral infarction, functions such as speech, physical movement, and sensitivity can be completely lost or disappear.

When a person has a heart attack, the death or necrosis of living tissue occurs in his body. The body loses tissue or part of an organ, as well as the functions performed by this organ.

Myocardial infarction is the death or ischemic necrosis of areas or an area of \u200b\u200bthe heart muscle itself due to complete or partial loss of blood supply. Heart muscle cells begin to die about 20-30 minutes after blood flow stops. If a person has a myocardial infarction, blood circulation is impaired. One or more blood vessels at the same time fail. Most often, heart attacks occur due to blockage of blood vessels by blood clots (atherosclerotic plaques). The zone of spread of the infarction depends on the severity of the violation of the organ, for example, extensive myocardial infarction or microinfarction. Therefore, do not immediately despair if the ECG shows a heart attack.

This becomes a threat to the work of the entire cardiovascular system of the body and threatens life. In the modern period, heart attacks are the main cause of death among the population of the developed countries of the world.

Heart attack symptoms

  • Dizziness.
  • Labored breathing.
  • Pain in the neck, shoulder, which can radiate to the back, numbness.
  • Cold sweat.
  • Nausea, feeling of full stomach.
  • A feeling of tightness in the chest.
  • Heartburn.
  • Cough.
  • Chronic fatigue.
  • Loss of appetite.

The main signs of myocardial infarction

  1. Intense pain in the region of the heart.
  2. Pain that does not stop after taking nitroglycerin.
  3. If the duration of the pain is more than 15 minutes.

Causes of a heart attack

  1. Atherosclerosis.
  2. Rheumatism.
  3. Congenital heart disease.
  4. Diabetes.
  5. Smoking, obesity.
  6. Arterial hypertension.
  7. Vasculitis.
  8. Increased blood viscosity (thrombosis).
  9. Previously suffered heart attacks.
  10. Severe coronary artery spasms (eg, with cocaine).
  11. Age-related changes.

Also, the ECG allows you to identify other diseases, such as tachycardia, arrhythmia, ischemic disorders.

Arrhythmia

What if the ECG showed arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia can be characterized by numerous changes in the heartbeat.

Arrhythmia is a condition in which there is a disturbance in the heart rhythm and heart rate. More often this pathology is marked by a heartbeat failure; the patient has either a rapid or slow heartbeat. An increase is observed during inhalation, and a decrease is observed during exhalation.

Angina pectoris

If the patient has bouts of pain under the sternum or to the left of it in the left arm, which can last for several seconds, and can last up to 20 minutes, then the ECG will show angina pectoris.

The pain usually worsens with heavy lifting, heavy physical exertion, going out into the cold and may disappear at rest. Such pains are reduced within 3-5 minutes when taking nitroglycerin. The patient's skin turns pale and the pulse becomes uneven, which causes interruptions in the work of the heart.

Angina pectoris is one of the forms of the heart. Often it is quite difficult to diagnose angina pectoris, because such deviations can manifest themselves in other cardiac pathologies. Angina pectoris can further lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Tachycardia

Many are very worried when they find out that the ECG showed tachycardia.

Tachycardia is an increase at rest. Heart rhythms with tachycardia can reach 100-150 beats per minute. Such a pathology can occur in people, regardless of age, when lifting weights or with increased physical exertion, as well as with strong psycho-emotional arousal.

Still, tachycardia is considered more likely not a disease, but a symptom. But this is no less dangerous. If the heart begins to beat too quickly, then it cannot have time to fill with blood, which further leads to a decrease in the release of blood and a lack of oxygen in the body, as well as the heart muscle itself. If the tachycardia lasts more than a month, it can lead to further malfunctions of the heart muscle and an increase in the size of the heart.

Tachycardia symptoms

  • Dizziness, fainting.
  • Weakness.
  • Dyspnea.
  • Increased anxiety.
  • Feeling of increased heart rate.
  • Heart failure.
  • Pain in the chest area.

The causes of tachycardia can be: ischemic disease heart, various infections, toxic effects, ischemic changes.

Conclusion

There are now many different heart diseases that can be accompanied by excruciating and painful symptoms. Before starting their treatment, it is necessary to diagnose, find out the cause of the problem and, if possible, eliminate it.

To date, an electrocardiogram is the only one effective method in the diagnosis of heart pathologies, which is also completely harmless and painless. This method is suitable for everyone - both children and adults, and is also affordable, effective and highly informative, which is very important in the conditions of modern life.

Most ECG interpreted without primary information about the clinical state of the patient, but the accuracy and value of interpretations in the presence of this information increases. Information may include, for example, information about drug therapy, which may be the cause of the observed changes on the ECG, or about a previous MI, which on the ECG can cause changes similar to acute ischemia.

Presence of previous ECG assists in the clinical evaluation of the latest registration. For example, it can improve diagnostic accuracy and make it easier to prioritize care for patients with ongoing ECGs and clinical signs ischemia or myocardial infarction, as well as improve the interpretation of, for example, blockade of the pedicle in the background of AMI

Technical inaccuracies can lead to significant diagnostic errors that can lead to unnecessary and potentially dangerous diagnostic tests and medical appointments and, accordingly, waste of material resources of the health care system.

Imprecise imposition one or more recording electrodes - common reason errors in ECG interpretation. Some topographical inaccuracies create characteristic patterns.

For instance, rearrangement in places of two electrodes on the hands leads to an inversion of the shape of the P wave and the QRS complex in lead I, but not in lead V6 (normally these two leads should have the same polarity). Other incorrect electrode positions are less obvious.

For instance, placement of the right chest electrodes too high on the surface of the chest can create a picture of anterior MI (slow growth of the R wave) or delayed intraventricular conduction (type rSr "). Maintaining the constancy of the points from which serial ECGs are recorded is an important condition for correct assessment of the dynamics of changes observed, for example, during episodes of myocardial ischemia.

Electrical or mechanical artifactscreated by poor skin contact or muscle tremor, can simulate life-threatening arrhythmias, and excessive body movements of the patient can cause large fluctuations in the baseline, simulating the displacement of the ST segment during ischemia or myocardial damage.

When interpreting an ECG mistakes are made quite often. Studies evaluating the accuracy of interpretation have identified a significant number of errors that lead to misunderstandings clinical picture, incl. failure to pinpoint and prioritize appropriate medical care patients with acute myocardial ischemia and in other life-threatening situations.

Overview literature showed that the main errors in the ECG conclusions are present in 4-32% of cases. The American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians have proposed minimum training standards and qualifications for ECG practitioners to help reduce potentially serious errors, but there is little evidence to support these specific recommendations.

The latter concerns inflated hopes for the use of computers in interpretation. Computer systems facilitate the storage of large quantities of ECGs, the routine application of complex diagnostic algorithms, and, as diagnostic algorithms become more accurate, provide important additional information for clinical ECG interpretation.

but interpretation with the help of computer systems, it is not always correct (especially in the case of complex disorders and in a critical clinical situation) to make a reliable conclusion without expert expert judgment. New methods of analysis based on the concepts of artificial intelligence can lead to further improvements, and new technical capabilities - to the widespread use of systems for fast and qualified interpretation.

On some sites on the Internet there are examples of ECG and clinical comments to them for self-control. For example, ECG Wave-Maven provides free access to over 300 ECG responses and multimedia applications.

Electrocardiography is a technique that records and examines the electrical fields generated during heartbeats. This kind instrumental research are prescribed to patients of various age categories... An ECG is performed for a child for preventive purposes and in the presence of certain indications. ECG interpretation in children is more complicated than in adults. This is explained age characteristics small patients. To make the correct diagnosis during the procedure, the specialist must strictly adhere to the research rules. This will help to obtain the necessary data for the diagnosis of a particular disease.

How is ECG performed

ECG procedure is a diagnostic method during which special sensors are attached to the patient's body. With their help, the electrical potentials arising during the work of the heart are recorded. The pulses pass from the sensors to the electrocardiograph, which converts these signals into a graphic record in the form of vibrations on special paper. The obtained research result is a cardiogram.

Baby ECG is more commonly used for prevention congenital defects even in the hospital and in the first year of life. At an older age, a study is assigned to patients when they find symptoms that indicate possible problems with heart.

During the procedure, the baby is stripped down to his underwear, laid in a horizontal position. During this period, the mother is allowed to be with the child. The sensors are attached to wrists, legs and from 5 to 8 leads on chest... The whole procedure takes 5 to 15 minutes.

What information does the method give

In addition to the features of heart contractions (frequency, rhythm, regularity), electrocardiography allows you to determine the following conditions in a baby:

  • decreased metabolism, lack of potassium, magnesium, calcium and other components;
  • congenital and acquired heart defects;
  • myocardial infarction, myocarditis;
  • an increase in certain areas of the heart muscle;
  • decreased cardiac conduction, rhythm disturbance;
  • angina pectoris, embolism, arrhythmia;
  • disorders of metabolic processes in the myocardium under the influence of diseases, internal and external factors.

With the help of electrocardiography, it is possible to diagnose many heart pathologies in children and adults

The advantages of ECG include the relative cheapness and practicality. The procedure does not require special training. The method does not harm health and negative consequences even with repeated use.

Important! Electrocardiography is a type of instrumental examination, without which the work of a pediatric and adult cardiologist cannot do.

What is the peculiarity of the ECG in children

Sometimes, after listening to the heartbeat of their baby, young mothers panic to find that their baby's heart beats much more often than adults. This should not be scared, since the work of the heart in young patients has its own characteristics. For a child, the established rate of heart beats per minute is from 130 to 170. In adolescents, the pulse slows down to 60-80 beats. The features of the ECG in children are that the indicators of a newborn, infant and adolescent may deviate from the norm. The cardiologist takes into account the characteristics of the patient during the decoding of the cardiogram. Each age group has its own permissible deviations, which must be taken into account when making a diagnosis.

Indications for using the method

Children are often given electrocardiography before they are discharged from the hospital. The procedure is carried out in connection with the increased incidence of congenital heart defects in children. Doctors recommend doing an ECG for a child if the following signs appear:

  • dizziness, headaches;
  • cases of loss of consciousness;
  • fast fatiguability;
  • the appearance of pain in the chest;
  • frequent infectious diseases;
  • development of swelling of the limbs.

These symptoms often indicate a malfunction of the heart muscle or the functioning of others. internal organs... To exclude possible complications should undergo a medical examination with eCG and other diagnostic methods.

Do you need preparation

No special preparation is required before the procedure. Shortly before the study, it is worth taking care of the normal morale of the baby. To do this, you need to eliminate stress and excessive emotional experiences of your child.


Before carrying out an ECG in a child, you should explain to the baby what the essence of the procedure is

So that the child does not get scared by the doctor, at home you should simulate the upcoming procedure, play the doctor, explain to the baby how the study will go. You can show the process of electrocardiography on video. It is allowed to record an ECG in children who are under a year old during sleep, but this can be done extremely rarely.

Important! The reliability of the data obtained during the ECG will directly depend on the child's morale during the procedure. The calmer the baby is, the more accurate the information obtained during the research will be.

Main ECG indicators

Only a specialist deciphers the cardiogram. The basic information for making a diagnosis is obtained taking into account such ECG components as waves, segments and intervals. At the same time, their presence or absence, height, location, duration, sequence and direction are assessed.

The basic concepts for ECG include:

  • sinus rhythm of the organ. This is the name of the rhythm of contraction of the heart muscle, carried out under the influence of the sinus node. These data make it possible to assess the coherence of the contraction of the ventricles and atria, the sequence of this process;
  • heart rate (HR);
  • source of excitement. Have healthy person nerve impulses diverge from the sinus node throughout nervous system... In some diseases, the pacemaker migrates to other parts of the organ, for example, to the ventricular, atrial, or atrioventricular node. These deviations can be diagnosed by examining the P wave;
  • cardiac conduction. In a normal state, electrical impulses propagate from one pacemaker to the next without changing the order;
  • electric axle. The data is calculated based on the analysis of the Q, R and S waves in the first, third leads. The information allows to assess the functioning of the His bundle.


To assess the state of various parts of the heart, special designations in the form of Latin letters are used

To make a diagnosis and identify certain abnormalities in the work of the heart, teeth are used. On the diagram, they are displayed in capital Latin letters:

  • T - indicates the process of relaxation of the ventricles of the heart;
  • P - speaks of contraction and relaxation of the atria;
  • Q, S - indicates the excitation of the septum between the ventricles of the organ;
  • R - excitation of the ventricles themselves.

The PQ interval determines the travel time of the electrical impulse from the atria to the ventricles.

The segments on the ECG are as follows:

  • TR - relaxation of the heart in the interval between contractions;
  • ST is the peak of ventricular excitation;
  • QRST is the time of ventricular contraction.

The above are only the main indicators used by a specialist when making a diagnosis.

Normal indicators in children

After electrocardiography, the following indicators indicate the absence of heart disease:

  • heart rate - children under 3 years old from 100 to 110 beats / min, babies 3-5 years old - 100 beats / min, 6-8 years old - from 90 to 100 beats / min, 9-12 years old - 70 - 85 beats / min;
  • segment QRS - from 0.06 to 0.1 s;
  • p wave - not more than 0.1 s;
  • РQ - within 0.2 s;
  • QТ - no more than 0.4 s.

Important! Electrocardiogram readings may differ depending on some features. This can be affected by the time of day, the patient's morale, improper placement of electrodes, and more.

Dangerous diseases

Based on the indicators of the cardiogram, the doctor can determine this or that disease in the child.

Heart rhythm problems

IN medical practice this condition is called extrasystole. In this case, the patient periodically feels an increase in heart rate with its subsequent fading. An extraordinary contraction is due to a violation of the conduction of cardiac impulses.


In many babies, heart disease is diagnosed immediately after birth using electrocardiography.

In rare cases of arrhythmia attacks, there is no health hazard. Attention should be paid to regularly recurring heart rhythm irregularities, accompanied by shortness of breath, pain and other negative symptoms.

Arrhythmia

With this pathology, changes in the frequency of the sinus rhythm occur, while the arrival of cardiac impulses occurs at different frequencies. Arrhythmia is sometimes asymptomatic and does not require special treatment. In only 30% of cases, this condition can cause serious health consequences. On the ECG, arrhythmia is manifested by the following abnormalities:

  • the distance between the RR intervals is more than 0.16 sec;
  • adjacent RR intervals are marked;
  • between cardiointervals from 0.3 to 0.6 sec;
  • the difference between successive RR intervals is more than 62%;
  • the difference between the maximum and minimum RR interval is 780 ms for a recording time of 5 minutes.

Bradycardia

The disease belongs to the types of arrhythmias, while the patient has a decrease in heart rate to 60 beats / min and below. Sometimes bradycardia is due to an EKG recording during sleep. Patients with a heart rate of less than 40 beats / min have dizziness, lethargy, fainting, difficulty breathing, and other unpleasant symptoms.


Bradycardia is characterized by certain abnormalities on the ECG

Tachycardia

Unlike bradycardia, this disease is accompanied by an acceleration of the heart rate. Temporary tachycardia can be caused by strong physical exercise, psycho-emotional overload, infectious and viral diseases, accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Depending on the age of the child, the following indicators indicate tachycardia:

  • newborns - above 170 beats / min;
  • children under one year old - above 160 beats / min;
  • children under 2 years old - above 155 beats / min;
  • 4-6 years - above 125 beats / min;
  • 6-8 years - above 118 beats / min;
  • 8-10 years old - above 110 beats / min;
  • 10-12 years old - 100 beats / min;
  • 12-15 years old - above 95 beats / min.

When an ECG is obtained that indicates tachycardia, re-examination is often done to confirm the diagnosis.

Violation of cardiac conduction

Normally, the main part of the heart, through which electrical impulses pass, exciting the atria and ventricles, is the sinus node. If this process is disturbed, the patient feels weak, the child has a decrease in motor activity, dizziness, lethargy, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

Important! The above and other heart diseases require immediate medical treatment, as they cause serious complications, sometimes incompatible with life.

ECG monitoring in children

To obtain detailed information about the functioning of the heart muscle, ECG monitoring is increasingly being done. Diagnostics is performed using special devices that continuously record ECG readings. The method is used among adults and children.


ECG monitoring is a common method for diagnosing heart disease in adults and children

The purposes of ECG monitoring include:

  • detection of cardiac arrhythmias in patients at risk (with heart defects, cardiomyopathies, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions);
  • making a diagnosis when a child develops heart pain, weakness, low physical activity, loss of consciousness;
  • assessment of the frequency of repetitions of previously identified disorders of the heart;
  • evaluating the effectiveness of the therapy for diseases.

Electrocardiography in a child can detect many heart diseases. With the correct use of the method and competent interpretation of the data obtained, it is possible to diagnose and select the necessary treatment for a specific patient.

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