What does a wide QRS mean?

A “wide QRS complex” refers to a QRS complex duration ≥120 ms. Widening of the QRS complex is related to slower spread of ventricular depolarization, either due to disease of the His-Purkinje network and/or reliance on slower, muscle-to-muscle spread of depolarization.

What causes a wide QRS?

Causes of a widened QRS complex include right or left BBB, pacemaker, hyperkalemia, ventricular preexcitation as is seen in Wolf-Parkinson-White pattern, and a ventricular rhythm. Because there is a P wave associated with every QRS complex, a ventricular rhythm can be ruled out.

How do you treat widened QRS?

For immediate treatment, IV procainamide should be given. This is a classic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome ECG. The treatment of choice is IV procainamide, probably the only time you’ll reach for this agent. Amiodarone would not be the agent to use long term given its side effects.

Are wide QRS normal?

A normal QRS should be less than 0.12 seconds (120 milliseconds), therefore a wide QRS will be greater than or equal to 0.12 seconds.

What causes wide QRS?

Wide QRS complexes, or those lasting longer than the normal rate, indicate ventricle impairment such as bundle branch blocks. Often with bundle branch blocks, a second upward deflection occurs within the complex. Other causes for a wide QRS complex include ectopic foci or abnormal pacemaker sites…

What are the indications of wide QRS complex?

A wider QRS may indicate that the bottom of the heart is contracting a little later than it should . Wide QRS is noted on ECG when there is a delay, or widening, in the part of the ECG called the QRS complex.

Is wide QRS tachycardia dangerous?

Ventricular tachycardia refers to a wide QRS complex heart rhythm – that is, a QRS duration beyond 120 milliseconds – originating in the ventricles at a rate of greater than 100 beats per minute. This can be hemodynamically unstable, causing severe hypotension, and can thus be life-threatening.

What is a normal QRS interval?

The normal duration (interval) of the QRS complex is between 0.08 and 0.10 seconds — that is, 80 and 100 milliseconds.