Question 14.3

A 65-year-old truck driver, with a history of COPD, has the following ECG (ECG 3).

Describe the ECG.    (20% marks)

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College Answer

Atrial flutter: ventricular response of around 150 bpm (atrial fibrillation acceptable but less marks)
Left Axis Deviation
Poor R wave progression
Partial intra ventricular conduction defect

Discussion

As usual, the college has removed their ECG images. The image above comes from www.torreyekg.com.

No interpretation is offered there. The axis seems vaguely leftward, but in the example I have provided there is no conduction delay or poor R wave progression.

Also, it is hard to believe that the ordinarily hard-assed CICM would accept atrial fibrillation as the interpretation of a regular tachycardia.