Cardiology doctors in yelahanka New Town, Bangalore A systematic description of ECGs The following eight short steps will enable most ECGs to be described correctly: 1 Check the paper speed and calibration markers. 2 Measure or estimate the heart rate. 3 Estimate the rhythm. 4 Look for P waves. 5 Measure the PR interval. 6 Examine the QRS complex. 7 Check the ST segment. 8 Measure the T wave. ECG interpretation should always be as restrained as practicable, taking into account the clinical context where known and comparison with previous tracings where possible. The possibility of Prinzmetal’s electrocardiographic heart disease must always be borne in mind—that is, do not assume that an abnormal ECG always means heart disease.2 Paper speed and calibration markers The standard paper speed is 25 mm/second. This means that 1 mm (small square) = 0.04 seconds and 5 mm (large square) = 0.20 seconds. Provided that the grid is shown, this gives the time scale regardless of the actual image magnification used. Voltage is measured on the vertical axis: 10 mm = 1 mV, as shown in the calibration artefact of Leads are often described in groups that correspond approximately to the area of the heart they represent. Leads 1 and aVL are (high) lateral leads. Leads 2, 3 and aVF are inferior leads. Leads 1, 2, 3, aVL, aVF and aVR are collectively called limb or frontal plane leads. Leads 1, 2 and 3 are standard limb leads, while leads aVL, aVF and aVR are augmented limb leads. nLeads V1 and V2 are anteroseptal leads. Leads V3 and V4 are anterior leads. Leads V5 and V6 are anterolateral leads. Leads V1–V6 are collectively called chest, precordial or horizontal plane leads.