User:Bron766/ECG/Axis

{{Prac|intro=The cardiac axis is the overall direction in which the heart is electrically activated.
 * skills=
 * Define the term 'cardiac axis'
 * Describe an ECG as having a normal axis by confirming leads I and II are both positive.
 * Draw or label the angle that each limb lead 'looks' at the heart from.
 * Identify the normal axis range on a graph of all limb lead angles.
 * Identify an ECG axis as normal, left, right or extreme based on at least one of the methods including:
 * Thumbs method
 * Quadrant shading
 * 90{{sup|o}} to Isoelectric lead
 * List causes of left axis deviation (e.g. Inferior MI, LAFB or Paced rhythm), right axis deviation (LPFB, Lateral MI, RVH or right strain), extreme axis deviation (VT, Electrolyte problems or misplaced ECG electrodes) or indeterminate axis.
 * Describe Einthoven's triangle and the history of his development of the cardiac axis
 * Define the 'Hexaxial reference system' and draw this from memory.
 * Plot the axis using net complex heights of two leads.
 * Use this technique to identify changes in the cardiac axis inside the limits of 'normal'.
 * Calculate the axis for P waves and T waves.
 * Analyse the clinical significance of the cardiac axis in a broad range of patient scenarios.
 * image=Hartas2 (CardioNetworks ECGpedia).jpg
 * image2=Normal cardiac axis (ECG).png
 * materials=* [[Image:Nuvola apps bookcase.png|24px]] Learn how to find the exact axis with Super Axis Man!
 * [[Image:Nuvola apps bookcase.png|24px]] Read a comprehensive six part series about axis determination
 * [[Image:Exquisite-xine.png|24px]] Watch a video on the quadrant method (15 min)
 * [[Image:Exquisite-xine.png|24px]] Review axis calculation with this video from acadoodle.com (8 min)
 * [[Image:Nuvola apps kpresenter.png|24px]] Cardiac Axis – Presentation (12 slides)
 * [[Image:My personal black cat.gif|24px]] Try this interactive animation - an axis simulator, which illustrates the isoelectric method of determining cardiac axis
 * [[Image:Nuvola apps bookcase.png|24px]] Read about indeterminate axis in this sample book chapter
 * [[Image:Nuvola apps bookcase.png|24px]] How do you calculate a P wave axis and what is normal?
 * r=

{ What is the cardiac axis? + The overall direction that the heart is electrically activated in. - The height of the tallest QRS complex. - The overall angle that the heart physically rotates with each contraction. - The most central anatomical structure in the heart.
 * type=""}

{ Describe these QRS complexes as positive, negative or isoelectric:


 * a-levels=
 * 1) [[Image:Icon Transparent Blue.png|24px]] Describe the axis as normal (positive leads I and II) or abnormal
 * 2) [[Image:Icon Transparent Green.png|24px]] Calculate the axis
 * 3) [[Image:Icon Transparent Yellow.png|24px]] List possible causes (if the axis is abnormal)
 * 4) [[Image:Nuvola filesystems services.png|24px]] Interpret the ECG and case details as a whole to assess the significance of the axis.
 * a-cases=
 * ECG of the Week - 16th September 2013, (answer here).

}}