Case 91: 78 Year-Old Woman in the Cardiology Ward
History
Diagnosis
History
This 78-year-old woman with a long-standing history of coronary artery disease is admitted to the cardiology ward for treatment of congestive heart failure:
Diagnosis
- Sinus rhythm with sinus arrhythmia and premature atrial beats – Ventricular rate 64/min
- AV dissociation due to a competing junctional rhythm
- Rightward axis
- Non-specific intra-ventricular conduction block
- T wave abnormality, consider inferior and anterolateral ischemia
Comment: Beats labeled “J” are junctional escapes whereas others are conducted beats. Slowing of the sinus node forces the junction to fire and causes AV dissociation. P-waves that happen to come relatively soon after a QRS complex are conducted with a long AV interval because firing of the junction causes AV node refractoriness.
ECG ID: E740