Arrhythmias in Real Life
Narrow Complex Tachycardias
Salaheldin Abusin, MD, MRCP, ABIM, ABIM (Card)
Interventional Cardiologist
Dubuque, IA ,USA
Outline
• Types
• Mechanism of Tachyarrhythmias
• ECG Interpretation & Acute Management
• Algorithm for Management of NCTs
• Problems
Types
Atrial Tissue
• Sinus Tachycardia
• Atrial Tachycardia
• Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
• Atrial Flutter
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Sinus Node Reentry Tachycardia
• Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia
AV Junction (Supraventricular)
• AV nodal Reentry Tachycardia
• AV Reentry Tachycardia
Pre Excitation Syndromes
• WPW
• Permanent Junctional Reentry
tachycardia
• Mahaim tachycardia
• Lown-Ganong- Levine Syn.
Mechanisms of tachyarrhythmias
1. Automaticity
2. Triggered Activity
3. Reentry
Automaticity
• Normal
– SA Node
– AV Node
• Abnormal
– Idioventricular rhythm
Reentry
• Requires the presence
of two pathways
– One slow, the other fast
– Unidirectional block in
one of the pathways
– Slow conduction down
the unblocked pathway
allowing the other
pathway to recover and
maintain the circuit
Triggered Activity
Delayed After Depolarization
• Early
– Prolonged QT
– Torsades de Pointes
• Late
– Digoxin Toxicity
Regular
Narrow Complex Tachycardia
No P Waves
Atrial Fibrillation
Irregular
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
Atrial Flutter with variable block
P Waves present
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
EFINAID:00436354522-SEP-201001:46:49COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Atrialfibrillationwithrapidventricularresponse
V100Hz005D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:PAYMANSATTARM.D.
BPM124Vent.rate
ms*PRinterval
ms72QRSduration
msQT/QTc290/416
-649*P-R-Taxes
2yr)
Indian
hnician:STEPHAN0021
tind:234783934
1-1928
Page1of1
EID:84EDT:18:0127-SEP-2010ORDER:ACCOUNT:00023478393
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation
• Irregular Narrow Complex Tachycardia
• The commonest sustained arrhythmia
• Absence of P waves
• Atrial activity appears as irregular baseline or f
(fibrillatory) waves
• Usual ventricular rate 100-180 in the absence of
therapy
• If HR < 100 without medical treatment suspect
underlying conductive tissue disease
Types
• Paroxysmal
– self-terminating episodes that generally last <7 days
(most <24 hours)
• Persistent
– generally lasts >7 days and often requires electrical or
pharmacologic cardioversion.
• Permanent
– failed cardioversion or when further attempts to
terminate the arrhythmia are deemed futile.
Hurst's the Heart, 12th Edition
Causes
• Ischemic Heart Disease
• Hypertensive Heart Disease
• Other organic heart disease/cardiomyopathy
• Mitral Valve disease
• ASD
• WPW
• Lung Disorders (Acute e.g. PE, Chronic e.g. COPD)
• Post Surgical e.g. CABG
• Thyrotoxicosis
• Alcohol
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
II
III
aVL
aVF
V2
V3
V1
II
V5
25mm/s 10mm/mV 100Hz 005D 12SL 233 CID: 31 EID:34 EDT: 09:14 16-M
PP PPP P P
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
(MAT)
• Irregular Narrow Complex Tachycardia
• >= 3 P wave morphologies
• Varying PP, PR, RR intervals
• P waves may be blocked
• P waves may conduct with aberrancy
• Unstable rhythm usually progresses to atrial
fibrillation
Causes
• COPD
• Cor pulmonale
• Hypoxia
• Heart Failure
• Postoperative State
• Sepsis
• Pulmonary Edema
Management
• Treatment of the underlying cause
• Correction of electrolytes (K, Mg)
• AV nodal blocking agents
• Anticoagulation depending on stroke risk
Regular
Narrow Complex Tachycardia
No P Waves
AV nodal Reentry
tachycardia, AVNRT
Irregular
P Waves present
Identify P wave morphology/rate
Relationship between P and QRS
Identify RP interval
AV nodal Reentry Tachycardia
AVNRT
• Regular Narrow Complex Tachycardia
• Usual rate 150-250
• Abrupt onset and offset
• Variable relation to P wave
– P wave buried in the QRS
– Short RP interval
– Atypical AVNRT Long RP
• Usually no underlying heart disease
Mechanism of AVNRT
Management
• Acute Episode
– Vagal Maneuvers
• Valsalva, carotid sinus massage,
– IV adenosine
– IV/PO Betablockers, Calcium Channel Blockers
– DC Cardioversion
• Prevention
– PO Betablockers, Calcium Channel Blockers
– Radiofrequency Ablation
Regular
Narrow Complex Tachycardia
No P Waves
Irregular
P Waves present
Identify P wave morphology/rate
Relationship between P and QRS
Identify RP interval
RP Interval
• Distance from the R wave to the NEXT P wave
• Short if RP interval < ½ RR interval
• Long if RP interval > ½ RR interval
Long RP Interval
EID:89EDT:18:1406-OCT-2010
RR
RP
RP interval > ½ RR interval
Short RP interval
V3V6
EID:34EDT:09:5114-JUN-2008ORD
RR
RP
RP interval < ½ RR interval
Regular Narrow Complex Tachycardia
No P Waves P Waves present
P wave morphology
Atrial rate
Relationship between
P and QRS
RP interval
Atrial rate >200
Flutter waves
Atrial Flutter
Short RP
Abnormal P wave
Atrial tachycardia
With AV delay
Long RP interval
Abnormal P wave
Atrial tachycardia
Short RP
Retrograde P wave
AVNRT, AVRT
Long RP interval
Retrograde P wave
Atypical AVNRT
Definition of normal P
• Duration 0.08 to 0.11 (2-3 small squares)
• Axis (0-75)
• Upright in II, III, aVF
• Upright/biphasic in III, aVL, V1, V2
• Amplitude <2.5mm in II (2.5 small squares)
• Amplitude in V1 positive <1.5mm (1.5 small sq)
negative <1mm (1 small sq)
• PR interval 0.12 – 0.2 (3-5 small squares)
V5
V6
Page1of1
EID:34EDT:09:5114-JUN-2008ORDER:ACCOUNT:0
RR
PPPP RP
AV node reentry tachycardia, AVNRT
V6
Page1of1
EID:34EDT:09:0811-SEP-2009ORDER:ACCOUN
P P P P P P
Atrial Flutter
Atrial Flutter
• Regular Narrow Complex Tachycardia
• F waves conducting ~ 300/min
• Usually 2:1 block with a ventricular response
of 150/min
• Same causes as atrial fibrillation
• No baseline in II, III, aVF
• Discrete P waves in V1
Mechanism of Atrial Flutter
• Typical F waves inverted
F waves in II, III, aVF
Page1
EID:34EDT:09:0811-SEP-2009ORDER:
Management
• Similar to atrial fibrillation
– Requires anticoagulation
• More Difficult to control rate with medical
treatment compared to atrial fibrillation
• Usually requires DC Cardioversion
• Radiofrequency ablation highly successful in
restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
TTYID:00271403019-OCT-201006:20:38COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Atrialflutterwith2to1blockAVB
mV100Hz005D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:BOSKOMARGETAMD
BPM156Vent.rate
ms116PRinterval
ms96QRSduration
msQT/QTc260/419
21528-76P-R-Taxes
61yr)
9
chnician:SHEILALOVE
stind:235171493
Page1of1
EID:1080EDT:20:2627-OCT-2010ORDER:ACCOUNT:0002358098
P P P P
RR
RP
Atrial Tachycardia
Atrial tachycardia
• Atrial rate is 100-240 i.e. slower than atrial flutter
• Usually 1:1 conduction without medical
treatment
• Not terminated by vagal maneuvers
• Mechanism
– Intra atrial reentry
– Automatic – ectopic focus
– triggered
Management
• AV nodal blocking agents
• Some are amenable to Radiofrequency
ablation
ECG Problems
Problem 1
• 68 year old Nigerian male with PMH of HTN,
DM comes to Cardiology clinic for a routine
check up
• He takes metoprolol in addition to Lisinopril
for Blood Pressure Control
• HR 70/min, irregular, BP 150/70
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
ID:00262456728-JUL-201117:06:30COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Atrialfibrillationwithprematureventricularoraberrantlyconductedcomplexes
Inferiorinfarct,ageundetermined
Anteriorinfarct,ageundetermined
Twaveabnormality,considerlateralischemiaordigitaliseffect
AbnormalECG
NopreviousECGsavailable
005D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:PAYMANSATTARM.D.
BPM92Vent.rate
ms*PRinterval
ms92QRSduration
msQT/QTc346/427
26111*P-R-Taxes
n:SHAWNTEWILLIAMS
0197424773
Page1of1
EID:89EDT:09:2605-AUG-2011ORDER:ACCOUNT:000706386349
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
Atrial
Fibrillation
Problem 2
• 62 year old female with known ESRD on HD
via left AV fistula developed sudden onset of
palpitations during dialysis; feels her HR racing
• HR 170/min, BP 130/80
• Clinical Examination revealed rapid regular
heart beat, mild LE edema, left AV fistula
V4
V5
V6
Page1of1
EID:5EDT:15:2127-AUG-2010ORDER:ACCOUNT:000234091080
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
AVNRT
Problem 3
• 59 year old African American Male, with DM,
HTN, Obesity presents to his internist with
two weeks history of shortness of breath on
exertion
• HR 140/min, BP 140/90
• JVP difficult to assess due to obesity
• Chest clear, mild LE edema (unchanged
according to patient)
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial
Flutter
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
ID:00034559908-APR-200903:24:28COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Sinustachycardia
Leftposteriorfascicularblock
CannotruleoutInferiorinfarct(citedonorbefore18-APR-2008)
Anteriorinfarct(citedonorbefore02-DEC-2007)
WhencomparedwithECGof20-DEC-200813:44,
Significantchangeshaveoccurred
ConfirmedbyKELLYMD,RUSSELL,F(1006),editorJAMES,MAMIE(34)on16-Apr-200915:20:27
D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:RUSSELL,FKELLYMD
BPM153ent.rate
ms208Rinterval
ms84RSduration
msT/QTc306/488
59141*R-Taxes
TEPHANBARBER
162456
Page1of1
EID:34EDT:15:2016-APR-2009ORDER:ACCOUNT:000221162456
Problem 4
• 74 year old African American Female with
remote history of ASD repair and Pulmonary
Hypertension comes for follow up
• She takes metoprolol for hypertension
• HR 80/min, BP 120/70
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
LEEID:00112599815-NOV-201011:05:43COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
UnusualPaxis,possibleectopicatrialrhythm
Hz005D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:CARDIOLOGYConfirmedBy:BOSKOMARGETAMD
BPM87Vent.rate
ms288PRinterval
ms104QRSduration
msQT/QTc390/469
5342258P-R-Taxes
)
ian:ROSALINDMCDANIEL
:ACT#236367140
5
Page1of1
EID:89EDT:17:3119-JAN-2011ORDER:ACCOUNT:000236367140
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial
Tachycardia
with 2:1 Block
Problem 5
• Patient presenting with palpitations
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial
Fibrillation
Problem 6
• 54 year old White Male with PMH of a known
arrhythmia comes for routine follow up
• He takes metoprolol XL 200mg once daily
• HR 110/min, irregular, BP 130/70
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
ID:00409125524-APR-200905:06:35COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
AtrialflutterwithvariableA-Vblock
Pulmonarydiseasepattern
NonspecificTwaveabnormality
ConfirmedbyKELLYMD,RUSSELL,F(1006),editorJAMES,MAMIE(34)on28-Apr-200911:55:41
ReconfirmedbyKELLYMD,RUSSELL,F(1006),editorJAMES,MAMIE(34)on28-Apr-200911:56:58
05D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:CCUConfirmedBy:RUSSELL,FKELLYMD
BPM109Vent.rate
ms128PRinterval
ms100QRSduration
msQT/QTc294/395
2476260P-R-Taxes
:RONALDVANN
1576820
Page1of1
EID:34EDT:11:5628-APR-2009ORDER:ACCOUNT:000221576820
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial Flutter
with variable Block
Problem 7
• 49 year old male with no PMH, presents to the
Emergency Room with sudden onset of
palpitations, headache
• HR 145/min, BP 140/90
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
ID:00469085508-NOV-201011:24:15COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Supraventriculartachycardia
Rightwardaxis
JunctionalSTdepression,probablyabnormal
NopreviousECGsavailable
05D12SL233CID:16
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:PAYMANSATTARM.D.
BPM145Vent.rate
ms256PRinterval
ms98QRSduration
msQT/QTc272/422
4097*P-R-Taxes
:SHARONMOORE
236192233
Page1of1
EID:82EDT:10:2517-NOV-2010ORDER:ACCOUNT:000236192233
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
AVNRT
Problem 8
• 36 year old African American Male with no
PMH comes for a routine outpatient visit to
his primary care doctor
• HR 115/min, BP 120/80
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
ID:00226100431-JAN-201115:45:41COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
UnusualPaxis,possibleectopicatrialtachycardia
Rightbundlebranchblock
AbnormalECG
05D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:MICHAELSHAPIROMD
BPM115Vent.rate
ms200PRinterval
ms172QRSduration
msQT/QTc346/478
17148258P-R-Taxes
:SHAWNTEWILLIAMS
Page1of1
EID:53EDT:12:4518-JUN-2011ORDER:ACCOUNT:000701556979
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial
Tachycardia
with 2:1 Block
Problem 9
• 61 year old Hispanic female with no PMH,
presents to the Emergency Room with fatigue,
loss of weight, palpitations, and feeling warm
all the time.
• HR 200/min, BP 120/80
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
ID:00467869621-JUN-201017:31:36COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Atrialfibrillationwithrapidventricularresponse
CannotruleoutAnteriorinfarct,ageundetermined
ST&Twaveabnormality,considerinferiorischemiaordigitaliseffect
NopreviousECGsavailable
005D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:NAJAMULANSARI
BPM216Vent.rate
ms*PRinterval
ms70QRSduration
msQT/QTc208/394
24461*P-R-Taxes
n:MARYPARKER
IN232491415
Page1of1
EID:1080EDT:17:2928-JUN-2010ORDER:ACCOUNT:000232491415
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial
Fibrillation
Problem 10
• 48 year old male with severe obesity, a
chronic skin disorder, and chronic LE edema is
sent to hospital from this primary care doctor
after he finds his HR to be very fast
• HR 141/min, BP 130/70
• In the ER an ECG was performed
• Due to concerns for Pulmonary Embolism (PE),
a CT Pulmonary Angiogram was performed
and was reported as negative for PE
• Regularity of rhythm
• P wave present or absent
• RP interval
• P wave morphology/rate
• Relationship between P and QRS
Atrial
Tachycardia
• Diagnosed with probable ectopic atrial
tachycardia
• No response to IV adenosine
• No response to IV esmolol
• NO response to IV amiodarone
• Started becoming more breathless
• Performed DC Cardioversion 50J Biphasic, then 200
with no response
• At second attempt at DC Cardioversion 200J reverted
to Sinus rhythm
aVR
aVL
aVF
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
HEID:00439763214-SEP-201001:31:23COOKCOUNTYHOSPITAL
***AgeandgenderspecificECGanalysis***
Normalsinusrhythm
Leftaxisdeviation
Incompleteleftbundlebranchblock
AbnormalECG
WhencomparedwithECGof12-SEP-201017:03,
MANUALCOMPARISONREQUIRED,DATAISUNCONFIRMED
z005D12SL233CID:1
Referredby:ConfirmedBy:ASMIMULANSARI
BPM89Vent.rate
ms146PRinterval
ms120QRSduration
msQT/QTc374/455
73-5417P-R-Taxes
an:SHEILALOVE
Page1of1
EID:89EDT:16:2107-OCT-2010ORDER:ACCOUNT:000234
THANK YOU

ARLC 2014 - Narrow complex tachycardias

Editor's Notes

  • #10 Narrow Complex  tachycardia  Estimate HR Calculate HR in irregular rhythm, multiply by10 the number of complexes in a 6 second interval 11x10=110 No P waves  Atrial Fibrillation
  • #14 Narrow Complex  tachycardia  Estimate HR Calculate HR in irregular rhythm, multiply by10 the number of complexes in a 6 second interval 10x10=100 Identify P waves, variable P wave morphology, variable PP, variable PR intervals No P waves  Atrial Fibrillation Narrow Complex Tachycardia
  • #18 P wave are buried in the QRS complex so cannot be seen on a surface ECG
  • #19 Narrow complex tachycardia  Regular, Rate of 190  No P waves
  • #23 P wave are buried in the QRS complex so cannot be seen on a surface ECG
  • #29 Regular Narrow Complex Tachycardia, ~140/min, short RP, retrograde P wave
  • #30 Narrow complex tachycardia, Regular, 150/min, two P waves to every QRS complex at 300/min,
  • #34 Regular Narrow Complex tachycardia, Long RP, abnormal P wave (biphasic in II, inverted in aVF, upright in III)
  • #35 Re entry underlying heart disease, specturem A fib/flutter, 90-120, 2:1 block, Ablation 75% success Crista terminalis, base of pulmonary vein, ablation if incessant
  • #39 HR 90/min, irregular, narrow complex tachycardia, no P waves  Atrial Fibrillation
  • #41 HR 180/min, narrow complex tachycardia, regular, no P waves  AVNRT
  • #43 HR 150/min, narrow complex tachycardia, regular, atrial rate of 300/min, 2:1 block, saw tooth pattern  atrial flutter Not atrial tachycardia (atrial rate too fast)
  • #45 HR 87/min, narrow complex, regular, 2:1 block, atrial rate of 150/min, Not atrial flutter because atrial rate is much lower than that
  • #47 110/min, narrow complex tachycardia, irregular, no P waves, coarse baseline  Atrial fibrillation
  • #49 110/min, narrow complex tachycardia, irregular, atrial rate of 300/min, variable ventricular response, atrial flutter with variable block
  • #51 HR 150/min, narrow complex tachycardia, regular, retrograde P wave, short RP,  AVNRT
  • #53 HR 115/min, narrow complex tachycardia, 2:1 block, atrial rate of 230/min, baseline between the P waves in II, III, aVF
  • #55 210/min, narrow complex tachycardia, irregular, no P waves, A fib
  • #57 HR 140/min, narrow complex tachycardia, regular, borderline abnormal P, biphasic in II, III, aVF, Long RP  atrial tachycardia