Cardiac tamponade electrocardiogram

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.

Overview

The electrocardiogram in cardiac tamponade usually demonstrates sinus tachycardia, and may sometimes show reduced QRS voltage and electrical alternans.

Electrocardiogram

EKG findings of cardiac tamponade are:

• Sinus tachycardia
• Electrical alternans (beat-to-beat alterations in the QRS complex due to the swinging of the heart in pericardial fluid)
• Low voltage QRS complexes ([[Low QRS voltage] is defined as maximum QRS amplitude in precordial lead < 1 mV and < 0.5 mV in the limb leads due to insulating properties of fluid) .
• ST segment .
• EKG findings of pericarditis and pericardial effusion may be seen if these conditions are accompanying tamponade.

Electrocardiographic Examples

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  Cardiac Tamponade with low voltage QRS complex and Electrical Alternans
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  12 lead EKG shows Cardiac Tamponade with Electrical Alternans
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  Low voltage and electrical alternans in a patient with cardiac tamponade