EKG – Exam #3, 2026 – Study guide and practice
material
Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) EKG characteristics - correct answer ✔✔ -No P wave or
P-R interval
-Widened, bizarre looking, QRS complex
-T wave direction opposite QRS
-Underlying rhythm may be normal but rhythm is irregular where PVC is
a PVC is... - correct answer ✔✔ a single irritable focus in ventricles that fires prematurely
PVC's will be compensatory... - correct answer ✔✔ 85% of the time
R on T phenomenon - correct answer ✔✔ -R wave lands on T wave when in relative refractory
-Can result in V tach., V. flutter, V. fib
Couplet - correct answer ✔✔ 2 PVC's in a row
Unifocal vs. Multifocal - correct answer ✔✔ PVC's that look the same vs. those that look
different (much more dangerous)
When do PVC's need attention? - correct answer ✔✔ -couplet
-3 or more PVC's in a row (v. tach)
-bigeminy or trigeminy
-multifocal PVC's
-more than 6 PVC's per minute
, -R on T phenomenon
Ventricular tachycardia - correct answer ✔✔ 3 or more PVC's in a row; can still make out waves
Ventricular tachycardia rate - correct answer ✔✔ 101-250 bpm
Ventricular flutter EKG characteristics - correct answer ✔✔ -Single or multiple ectopic foci
-Rate = 250-350 bpm
-P wave= none
-QRS= wide bizarre and run into each other
-ST segment = not visible
Ventricular fibrillation - correct answer ✔✔ multiple foci in the ventricles become irritable and
generate uncoordinated, chaotic impulses that cause the heart to fibrillate rather than contract
Coarse vs. fine v. fib waves - correct answer ✔✔ coarse = >3mm, fine = <3mm
Torsades de pointes - correct answer ✔✔ two irritable foci competing for dominance
Torsades de pointes rate - correct answer ✔✔ 250-350 bpm
Torsades de pointes EKG characteristics - correct answer ✔✔ -QRS: >.12 sec, usually the same
shape but varies in amplitude in a repetitive fashion
-P wave and P-R interval: not present
-sudden onset
Idioventricular rhythm EKG - correct answer ✔✔ No P wave, widened QRS, rate = 20-30 bpm
material
Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) EKG characteristics - correct answer ✔✔ -No P wave or
P-R interval
-Widened, bizarre looking, QRS complex
-T wave direction opposite QRS
-Underlying rhythm may be normal but rhythm is irregular where PVC is
a PVC is... - correct answer ✔✔ a single irritable focus in ventricles that fires prematurely
PVC's will be compensatory... - correct answer ✔✔ 85% of the time
R on T phenomenon - correct answer ✔✔ -R wave lands on T wave when in relative refractory
-Can result in V tach., V. flutter, V. fib
Couplet - correct answer ✔✔ 2 PVC's in a row
Unifocal vs. Multifocal - correct answer ✔✔ PVC's that look the same vs. those that look
different (much more dangerous)
When do PVC's need attention? - correct answer ✔✔ -couplet
-3 or more PVC's in a row (v. tach)
-bigeminy or trigeminy
-multifocal PVC's
-more than 6 PVC's per minute
, -R on T phenomenon
Ventricular tachycardia - correct answer ✔✔ 3 or more PVC's in a row; can still make out waves
Ventricular tachycardia rate - correct answer ✔✔ 101-250 bpm
Ventricular flutter EKG characteristics - correct answer ✔✔ -Single or multiple ectopic foci
-Rate = 250-350 bpm
-P wave= none
-QRS= wide bizarre and run into each other
-ST segment = not visible
Ventricular fibrillation - correct answer ✔✔ multiple foci in the ventricles become irritable and
generate uncoordinated, chaotic impulses that cause the heart to fibrillate rather than contract
Coarse vs. fine v. fib waves - correct answer ✔✔ coarse = >3mm, fine = <3mm
Torsades de pointes - correct answer ✔✔ two irritable foci competing for dominance
Torsades de pointes rate - correct answer ✔✔ 250-350 bpm
Torsades de pointes EKG characteristics - correct answer ✔✔ -QRS: >.12 sec, usually the same
shape but varies in amplitude in a repetitive fashion
-P wave and P-R interval: not present
-sudden onset
Idioventricular rhythm EKG - correct answer ✔✔ No P wave, widened QRS, rate = 20-30 bpm
