QRS complex

Schematic representation of normal ECG

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]

Synonyms and keywords: QRS interval

Overview

The QRS complex represents electrical activation of the ventricle. Widening of the QRS complex may reflect delayed conduction in the His, bundle branch or purkinje conduction system.

Morphology of the QRS Complex

Q Wave

If the first deflection of the QRS is downward, it’s called a Q wave. The Q wave represents activation of the ventricular septum. The electricity spreads from right to left through the septum.

Q waves may be normal. For example in lead I, a Q less than 1/4 of the R height, and less than one box wide, is considered normal. This is the early activation of the septum. This activation goes left — away from lead I — and is therefore negative on the ECG. “Septal Qs” are normal in I, F, V5 and V6. Qs are also generally innocent in lead III and lead V1 if no other abnormality is seen.

Q waves are “significant” if they are greater than 1 box in width (longer than 0.04 msec) OR are larger than 1/4 of the R wave.

Q waves can be seen on the electrocardiogram following necrosis of the myocardium such as seen in acute MI or the replacement of electrically active tissue with electrically inert tissue as seen with Chagas disease. A Q wave may also reflect septal hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Pathological Q Wave

Pathological Q waves are defined as one of the following:

• Q waves in leads V2 or V3 ≥ 0.02s

OR

• Q wave ≥ 0.1 mV in depth and ≥ 0.03 s in duration in at least two contiguous leads (I, aVL, V5, V6; V2, V3; V3, V4; or II, III, aVF)

OR

• R wave ≥ 0.04s and R/S ≥ 1 in V1 and V2 with a concordant positive T wave without any conduction defect

Causes of Q Waves in the Absence of Myocardial Infarction

• A QS complex in lead V₁ is normal.
• A Q wave <0.03 s and <1/4 of the R wave amplitude in lead III is normal if the frontal QRS axis is between 30 and 0°.
• The Q wave may be normal in aVL if the frontal QRS axis is between 60 and 90°. Small septal Q waves are non pathological Q waves if <0.03 s and <1/4 of the R wave amplitude in leads I, aVL, aVF, and V₄-V₅-V₆
• The following may be associated with Q/QS complexes in the absence of myocardial infarction:

Chagas disease

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Preexcitation syndromes

Obstructive or dilated cardiomyopathy

LBBB

RBBB

Left anterior fascicular block

LVH

RVH

Myocarditis

Acute cor pulmonale

Hyperkalemia

Conditions that Mask Q waves in the Presence of Myocardial Infarction

The following may be associated with masking of the Q waves despite the presence of a myocardial infarction:

LBBB

• LBBB may mask or mimic the presence of Q waves and ST-T changes during the acute and late phases of ventricular depolarization

• The sensitivity of Q wave abnormalities on EKG in ischemia among patients with complete LBBB is only 31%

Ventricular Paced Rhythm (VPR)

Ventricular pacing may alter EKG patterns of necrosis and result in abnormal QRS forces

• VPR from the apical RV region may demonstrate a wide QRS complex or pseudo-Q waves

• Ventricular fusion may result in pseudoinfarction pattern

• The unmasking of early Q waves during MI may necessitate changing the position of the leads

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Pattern/Syndrome

• Preexcitation and presence of delta waves typical of WPW syndrome or WPW pattern may either mimic acute and chronic MI or may mask it

• Abolishment of delta waves may be necessary for the diagnosis of MI to be made on EKG

• Left posterolateral or lateral accessory pathways may mask inferior or anteroseptal MI

• Posteroseptal accessory pathways may mask an anterior MI

• Right anteroseptal and anterolateral accessory pathways may mask inferior or anterolateral MI

EKG Changes of Prior Myocardial Infarction

1. Any Q wave in V₂-V₃ ≥0.02 sec or presence of QS complex in V₂ and V₃.
2. Q wave ≥0.03 sec and ≥0.1 mV deep or presence of QS complexes in leads I, II, aVL, aVF or V₄-V₅-V₆ in any two leads of a contiguous lead grouping (I, aVL, V₆; V₄-V₅-V₆, II, III and aVF). The same criteria are used for supplemental leads V₇-V₈-V₉, and for the Cabrera frontal plane leads.
3. R wave ≥0.04 sec in V₁-V₂ and R/S >1 with a concordant positive T wave in the absence of a conduction defect.

R wave

The first upward deflection of the QRS is called the R wave. Most of the ventricle is activated during the R wave. The R wave may be prolonged if the ventricle is enlarged, and may be abnormally high (indicating strong voltage) if the ventricular muscle tissue is hypertrophied.

Looking at the precordial leads, the r wave usually progresses from showing a rS-type complex in V₁ with an increasing R and a decreasing S wave when moving towards the left side. There is usually an qR-type of complex in V₅ and V₆ with the R-wave amplitude usually taller in V₅ than in V₆. It is normal to have a narrow QS and rSr' patterns in V₁, and so is also the case for qRs and R patterns in V₅ and V₆. The transition zone is where the QRS complex changes from predominately negative to predominately positive (R/S ratio becoming >1), and this usually occurs at V₃ or V₄. It is normal to have the transition zone at V₂ (called "early transition"), and at V₅ (called "delayed transition").

The definition of poor R wave progression (PRWP) varies in the literature, but a common one is when the R wave is less than 2–4 mm in leads V₃ or V₄ and/or there is presence of a reversed R wave progression, which is defined as R in V₄ < R in V₃ or R in V₃ < R in V₂ or R in V₂ < R in V₁, or any combination of these. Poor R wave progression is commonly attributed to anterior myocardial infarction, but it may also be caused by left bundle branch block, Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, right and left ventricular hypertrophy as well as by faulty ECG recording technique.

Shown below is an EKG demonstrating poor R wave progression:

Poor R wave progression

Tall R waves in V1

Examples

• 

  Tall r waves in V1

• 

  Tall R waves in V1

Causes of tall R waves in V1

• Posterior MI
• RBBB
• Right Strain
  • PE
  • COPD
  • Cor Pulmonale
• RBBB mimics
  • PE
  • Brugada
  • ARVD
  • WPW
• Pediatric EKG (tall R-wave and flipped t-wave V1-3)

S wave

The S wave is any downward deflection following the R wave. Like the R wave, an abnormally large S wave may indicate hypertrophy of the ventricle.

If a second upward deflection is seen, it’s called an R-prime wave. R-prime waves are never normal, but indicate a problem in the ventricular conduction system.

QRS complexes may be described by naming the waves that form them. For example, a complex with an R, an S, and an R’ is called an RSR’ complex.

QRS Duration

• The normal duration is less than 0.12 seconds
  • If the duation is > 0.12 seconds then either left bundle branch block (LBBB), right bundle branch block (RBBB) or a non-specific intraventricular conduction delay is present.
• The precordial leads are approximately 0.01 or 0.02 seconds longer than the limb leads.

Causes of a Wide QRS Interval or a Prolonged QRS Interval

• Hypothermia
• Incomplete left bundle branch block
• Incomplete right bundle branch block
• Left anterior fascicular block
• Left bundle branch block
• Left posterior fascicular block
• Non-specific intraventricular conduction delay (NSIVCD) (when the QRS is wide and the definitions of LBBB and RBBB are not met)
• Right bundle branch block
• Ventricular tachycardia

QRS Amplitude

Definitions of Low QRS Voltage:

• If the total amplitude above and below the isoelectric line is < 5 mm in all 3 standard leads.
• An average voltage in the limb leads of < 5 mm with an average of < 10 mm in the chest leads.
• Should be at least 5 mm in V₁ and V₆ , 7 mm in V₂ and V₅ and 9 mm in V₃ and V₄.

Low voltage QRS <10mm precordial

Pathophysiology of Low QRS Voltage

Three general processes contribute to low QRS voltage:

1. Damping of the electrical signal due to excess air (emphysema, COPD), fluid (pericardial effusion, pericardial constriction, pleural effusion), edema (anasarca), fat (obesity), physiologic variant, or amyloid cardiomyopathy
2. Electrically inert myocardium due to a loss of viable myocardium such as in myocardial infarction and Chagas disease]]
3. Infiltration of the myocardium (myxedematous, Chagas disease)

Causes of Low QRS Voltage

The presence of low voltage on the EKG should prompt an evaluation to rule out life threatening emergencies such as cardiac tamponade or a large pericardial effusion. These two diagnoses are suggested by the presence of tachycardia and electrical alternans along with the low QRS voltage. In alphabetical order the differential diagnosis includes:

• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
• Amyloidosis
• Anasarca
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Beriberi heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Chagas disease
• Diffuse coronary artery disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Constrictive pericarditis
• COPD
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Generalized edema and pedal edema
• Emphysema
• Hemochromatosis
• Hypothermia
• Hypothyroidism
• Ischemic cardiomyopathy
• Prior myocardial infarction
• Myocarditis
• Myxedema
• Obesity
• Pericardial effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Rejection after heart transplantation
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma
• Tamponade
• Technical error in the settings on the ECG apparatus (sensitivity should be at 10 mm/mV)

Definition of Maximal QRS Voltage:

Can be up to 20 to 30 mm in lead 2 and can be up to 25 to 30 mm in the precordial leads.

Examples

• 

  Diagram shows different types of QRS shapes

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