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Common Medical Conditions and Their ECG Changes
How to Read This Guide
For every condition: what the ECG looks like → what it means → simple memory trick
1. STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction)
Story: Complete blockage of a coronary artery. Full-thickness heart muscle is dying.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| ST elevation | ≥1mm in limb leads, ≥2mm in chest leads, in 2+ contiguous leads |
| Hyperacute T waves | Tall, peaked T waves - earliest sign (first minutes) |
| Pathological Q waves | Develop after hours - sign of dead muscle (>1mm wide, >25% of R height) |
| Reciprocal ST depression | Mirror changes in opposite leads - confirms STEMI |
Where: Depends on artery (see previous table - II/III/aVF = inferior, V1-V4 = anterior, etc.)
Memory: STEMI = Street goes UP
2. NSTEMI / Unstable Angina
Story: Partial blockage. Only the inner (subendocardial) layer is ischemic.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| ST depression | ≥0.5mm in V2-V3, ≥1mm in other leads, in 2+ contiguous leads |
| T-wave inversion | Symmetric, often deep |
| No ST elevation | Key distinguishing feature |
| No Q waves | No full-thickness death |
| Normal ECG in 50%! | Normal ECG does NOT rule out NSTEMI |
Special patterns:
- Wellens syndrome: Deep symmetric T inversion in V2-V4 = critical LAD stenosis, impending anterior STEMI
- De Winter pattern: ST depression + tall T in V1-V4 + ST elevation in aVR = proximal LAD occlusion (treat as STEMI-equivalent)
- aVR elevation + widespread ST depression = Left main or multivessel disease
Memory: NSTEMI = Street goes DOWN
3. Acute Pericarditis
Story: Inflammation of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart. Diffuse involvement - not one artery territory.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Diffuse ST elevation | Present in almost ALL leads EXCEPT aVR and V1 |
| PR depression | Very characteristic - depressed in most leads |
| ST elevation in aVR | Reciprocal - goes UP in aVR while others go up too |
| PR elevation in aVR | Mirror of PR depression elsewhere |
| No reciprocal ST depression | Unlike MI, no mirror drops (except aVR) |
4 Stage Evolution:
Stage 1 → PR depression + diffuse ST elevation
Stage 2 → ST normalizes
Stage 3 → T wave inversions (widespread)
Stage 4 → ECG returns to normal
How to tell pericarditis from STEMI:
| Feature | Pericarditis | STEMI |
|---|
| ST elevation | Diffuse (all leads) | Localized (one territory) |
| PR depression | YES - classic | No |
| Reciprocal changes | No (except aVR) | YES |
| Chest pain | Sharp, positional, better leaning forward | Crushing, doesn't change with position |
Memory: Pericarditis = PR down, ST up everywhere
4. Cardiac Tamponade
Story: Fluid fills the pericardial sac, compressing the heart. The heart wobbles in the fluid.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Sinus tachycardia | Most common finding |
| Low voltage | Small QRS complexes in all leads (fluid insulates) |
| Electrical alternans | QRS height alternates beat-to-beat (heart swinging in fluid) - VERY specific for tamponade |
| P-QRS-T all alternating | Total electrical alternans = tamponade until proven otherwise |
Memory: Tamponade = Tiny alternating complexes + Tachycardia
5. Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Story: Clot blocks pulmonary artery → right heart suddenly overloaded → right heart strain pattern.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Sinus tachycardia | Most common finding (seen in most PE) |
| S1Q3T3 | S wave in lead I + Q wave in lead III + T inversion in lead III |
| Right axis deviation | QRS axis shifted right (RV overloaded) |
| New RBBB | Right bundle branch block (RV strain) |
| T inversion V1-V4 | Right heart strain pattern |
| P pulmonale | Tall peaked P waves in II (RA enlargement) |
Important: S1Q3T3 is specific but not sensitive (only ~20% of PE have it). Sinus tachycardia alone is most common. Normal ECG can occur in small PE.
Memory: S1Q3T3 = "1 S, 3 Q, 3 T" - PE pattern
6. Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Story: Chaotic electrical firing in the atria - no organised atrial activity.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Irregularly irregular rhythm | No two R-R intervals the same - KEY feature |
| No P waves | Replaced by fibrillatory (f) baseline - wavy, chaotic |
| Fibrillatory baseline | Best seen in V1 |
| Narrow QRS | Usually (unless aberrant conduction) |
| Rate: | Variable - ventricular rate 100-160/min if uncontrolled |
Memory: AF = Absolutely no P, Absolutely irregular
7. Atrial Flutter
Story: Circular re-entry loop in the right atrium firing at ~300/min.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Sawtooth flutter waves | Regular, rate ~300/min, best seen in II, III, aVF |
| Regular atrial rate ~300/min | With 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1 block to ventricles |
| Ventricular rate | Usually ~150/min (2:1 block) |
| Narrow QRS | Usually |
| "Regularly regular" rhythm | Unlike AF which is irregular |
Memory: Flutter = regular sawtooth teeth at 300/min, ventricular rate 150
8. Hyperkalemia (High Potassium)
Story: Rising potassium destabilises the cardiac cell membrane progressively.
ECG Changes Progress in Order:
K+ rising:
1. Peaked (tented) T waves → first sign (K+ ~5.5-6.5)
2. Prolonged PR interval → AV conduction slows (K+ ~6.5-7)
3. Widening QRS → conduction slows (K+ ~7-8)
4. Flattened/absent P waves → atrial paralysis
5. Sine wave pattern → QRS merges with T wave (K+ >8)
6. Ventricular fibrillation / asystole → cardiac arrest
Memory: "Tall Tents, then PR, then Wide QRS, then Sine, then Dead"
9. Hypokalemia (Low Potassium)
Story: Low potassium prolongs repolarisation.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Prolonged QT interval | Increased risk of arrhythmias |
| Prominent U waves | U wave after T wave, best in V2-V4 - classic sign |
| T wave flattening | T waves become small or inverted |
| "T-U fusion" | T and U waves merge → looks like long QT |
Memory: Hypo-K = U waves appear (U = yoU need more potassium)
10. Hypercalcemia vs Hypocalcemia
| Condition | QT Interval | Memory |
|---|
| Hypercalcemia | Short QT | Ca goes UP, QT comes DOWN |
| Hypocalcemia | Long QT (ST prolonged) | Ca goes DOWN, QT goes UP |
11. Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)
Story: Thickened LV muscle generates bigger electrical signals.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Tall R waves in left leads | V5, V6, I, aVL |
| Deep S waves in right leads | V1, V2 |
| Sokolow-Lyon criteria | S in V1 + R in V5 or V6 > 35mm |
| ST depression + T inversion | In leads with tall R (I, aVL, V5-V6) - "strain pattern" |
| Left axis deviation | QRS axis shifted left |
| Left atrial enlargement | Often coexists |
Causes: Hypertension, aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
12. Right Ventricular Hypertrophy (RVH)
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Tall R in V1 | R > S in V1 (normally S dominates) |
| Deep S in V5-V6 | Persistent S waves laterally |
| Right axis deviation | QRS axis >+90° |
| T inversion V1-V3 | Right ventricular "strain" |
| P pulmonale | Peaked P >2.5mm in II (right atrial enlargement) |
Causes: Pulmonary hypertension, mitral stenosis, PE (chronic), COPD
13. RBBB (Right Bundle Branch Block)
Story: Right bundle blocked → right ventricle activates late (via slow muscle conduction instead of fast His-Purkinje).
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Wide QRS | >120ms (>3 small squares) |
| RSR' (rabbit ears) in V1 | Broad R, then S, then tall R' - "M shape" |
| Wide S wave in I, V5-V6 | Slurred wide S in lateral leads |
| ST depression + T inversion in V1-V3 | Secondary repolarisation change |
Memory: RBBB = "MaRRoW" - M in V1, W in V6
14. LBBB (Left Bundle Branch Block)
Story: Left bundle blocked → LV activates late. Abnormal depolarisation = abnormal repolarisation everywhere.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Wide QRS | >120ms |
| Broad notched R in I, aVL, V5-V6 | "W shape" in lateral leads (broad, slurred) |
| rS or QS in V1 | Deep S or QS in V1 |
| No septal Q waves | Normally there are small q in I, V5-V6 - absent in LBBB |
| Concordant ST/T changes | ST/T always opposite to QRS direction |
Important: New LBBB in a patient with chest pain = treat as STEMI (Sgarbossa criteria used)
Memory: LBBB = "WiLLiaM" - W in V1, M in V6
15. First/Second/Third Degree AV Block
| Type | ECG | Key Feature |
|---|
| 1st degree | PR interval >200ms (>5 small squares) | Every P conducts, just slowly |
| 2nd degree Mobitz I (Wenckebach) | PR gets longer each beat, then a beat is dropped | "Longer, longer, longer... DROP" |
| 2nd degree Mobitz II | PR fixed, then sudden non-conducted P (no QRS) | Sudden drop, no warning - dangerous |
| 3rd degree (Complete heart block) | P waves and QRS complexes march independently | No relationship between P and QRS; atrial rate > ventricular rate |
Memory for complete block: P waves are talking but the ventricles aren't listening
16. Hypothermia
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Bradycardia | Slow rate |
| Osborn wave (J wave) | Distinctive "hump" at the J point (between QRS and ST) - pathognomonic for hypothermia |
| Prolonged QT | Repolarisation delay |
| Shivering artefact | Irregular baseline |
Memory: Hypothermia = Osborn J wave ("J" for Jelly-shivering)
17. Subarachnoid Haemorrhage / Raised ICP
Story: Massive catecholamine surge from the brain damages the heart.
| ECG Finding | Detail |
|---|
| Deep, wide T inversions | Very deep, "CVA T waves" in precordial leads |
| Prolonged QT | At risk of Torsades de Pointes |
| ST changes | Can mimic STEMI |
| U waves | May be prominent |
Memory: Big brain bleed = Big T wave inversion (mimics MI)
Quick Master Reference Table
| Condition | Key ECG Sign | Memory Hook |
|---|
| STEMI | ST elevation (localised) + Q waves | Street UP in one area |
| NSTEMI | ST depression + T inversion | Street DOWN |
| Pericarditis | Diffuse ST up + PR down | All up except aVR PR |
| Tamponade | Electrical alternans + low voltage | Alternating tiny complexes |
| PE | S1Q3T3 + tachycardia | Sinus tachy is most common |
| AF | Irregularly irregular, no P waves | Absolutely irregular |
| AFL | Sawtooth 300/min, rate 150 | Regular saw |
| Hyperkalemia | Peaked T → wide QRS → sine wave | K goes up, tent then die |
| Hypokalemia | U waves + long QT | U waves appear |
| Hypercalcemia | Short QT | Ca up = QT down |
| Hypocalcemia | Long QT | Ca down = QT up |
| LVH | Tall R V5/V6 + deep S V1 + strain | Tall left, deep right |
| RBBB | RSR' (M) in V1, wide S in V6 | MaRRoW |
| LBBB | Broad R (M) in V6, QS in V1 | WiLLiaM |
| 3rd degree AV block | P-QRS dissociation | P talks, QRS ignores |
| Hypothermia | Osborn J wave + bradycardia | J for Jelly/shivering |
| SAH | Deep wide T inversions | Big bleed = big T |
Sources: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 22E; Goldman-Cecil Medicine; Rosen's Emergency Medicine; Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics