[New therapy possibilities for arrhythmias using catheter ablation]

[ECG results: tips and tricks for the correct diagnosis : Bradycardia and tachycardia rhythm disorders]

The 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is of great importance for the diagnostics of cardiac arrhythmias. For the correct and systematic analysis it has a sensitivity and specificity for the correct diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia of more than 95%. Nevertheless, the assessment of cardiac rhythm disorders is difficult for many physicians. In this way errors can occur, frequently due to a non-systematic analysis of the ECG; therefore, the aim of this article is to present the techniques and the necessary knowledge for assessment of the most frequent bradycardiac and tachycardiac heart rhythm disorders. Additionally, special features in the analysis of the ECG results in children are discussed.

[Fundamentals of 12-lead electrocardiography in intensive care medicine]

The surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of arrhythmias and acute coronary syndrome. Arrhythmias are divided into bradycardias (heart rate < 50/min) and tachycardias (heart rate > 100/min). Among tachycardias, differentiation between small QRS complexes (QRS width < 0.12 s) and broad QRS compexes (≥ 0.12 s) during tachycardia is necessary. It is important to analyze the relationship between P wave and QRS complex, to look for an electric alternans as a leading finding for an accessory pathway. Wide QRS complex tachycardias (QRS width ≥ 0.12 s) occur in supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) with aberrant conduction, SVT with bundle branch block or ventricular tachycardia (VT). In broad complex tachycardias, atrioventricular (AV) dissociation, negative or positive concordant pattern in V1-V6, a notch in V1, and qR complexes in V6 in tachycardias with left bundle branch block morphologies are findings indicating VT. In addition, an R/S relationship < 1 in V6 favors VT when right bundle branch block tachycardia morphologies are present. By correctly analyzing the surface ECG with a systematic approach, the specificity and sensitivity of correctly identifying a SVT or VT can be increased to greater than 95 %. The12-lead surface ECG is an important diagnostic tool for intensive care medicine. However, good ECG knowledge and systematic analysis are necessary to make the right diagnosis.