This 6-second lead II strip is irregular, so the 300 and 1500 methods do not work. Use the 6-second method to estimate the ventricular heart rate in beats per minute.
ECG rhythm strip interpretation worksheet with answers
1.Easy
lead II, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mVstrip length 6 s (marks at 0, 3 and 6 s)
heart rate = bpm
2.Easy
This lead II rhythm is regular. Count the small boxes between two consecutive R waves and use the 1500 method to find the heart rate in beats per minute, rounded to a whole number.
lead II, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV1 small box = 0.04 s, 1 large box = 0.20 sstrip length 6 s
heart rate = bpm
3.Medium
This lead II strip shows sinus rhythm with one pause. Measure the pause, the R–R interval across it, in seconds.
lead II, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV1 small box = 0.04 s, 1 large box = 0.20 sstrip length 6 s
pause = s
4.Medium
Interpret this lead II rhythm strip. Which rhythm is it? Click your answer.
lead II, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV1 small box = 0.04 s, 1 large box = 0.20 sstrip length 6 s
- 1atrial fibrillation
- 2sinus rhythm with PVCs
- 3junctional rhythm
- 4atrial flutter, 2:1 conduction
5.Hard
This lead II strip shows an AV block with an irregular ventricular rhythm. Use the 6-second method to find the ventricular rate in beats per minute.
lead II, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV1 small box = 0.04 s, 1 large box = 0.20 sstrip length 6 s
ventricular rate = bpm
6.Hard
This patient has a pacemaker. Interpret the lead II strip. Click your answer.
lead II, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV1 small box = 0.04 s, 1 large box = 0.20 sstrip length 6 s
- 1idioventricular rhythm
- 2dual-chamber (AV) paced rhythm
- 3second-degree AV block type II
- 4paced rhythm, failure to capture
Answer key
- 1. heart rate = 50 bpm
- 2. heart rate = 75 bpm
- 3. pause = 1.48 s
- 4. atrial fibrillation
- 5. ventricular rate = 40 bpm
- 6. paced rhythm, failure to capture
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