Question re: Intraventricular Conduction Delay

[immobiluss]

Hi All:

I'm 31, am not obese, etc., and I just received a copy of an ECG report. I had 'booked myself,' as I refer to it, in the local county hospital. During my visit, I felt cardiac events. At one point it felt like there was an earthquake in my chest, with a pulse that moved in an instant through my vascular system and curled around my eyes. The ECG report says "Abnormal ECG" because of a "Sinus Rhythm" with "Non-specific Intraventricular Conduction Delay."

The numbers are as follows:

Heart Rate: 81 bpm
RR Interval: 741 sec
PR Interval: 144 sec
QRS Duration: 112 sec
QT Interval: 392 sec
QTcb: 455 deg
QTcf: 433 deg
I40FrontAxis: 9 deg
T40FrontAxis: 140 deg
QRS Axis: -26 deg
ECG Severity: Abnormal ECG

Right before I experienced the episode, they had given me "40 mEq / 30" potassium chloride.

In layman's terms, what does this mean? The doctor's attempts to explain it was not good.

[immobiluss]

Actually, here's the direct link.

Both of your help is very much appreciated.

http://oi58.tinypic.com/sdldhv.jpg

If a patient was complaining of cardiac events while admitted to the E.R. and presented with this ECG, would you just watch him or would you run him up to a cardiologist?

Also, why would the ECG be "signed" ten days after the visit?

[immobiluss]

I've included an imbedded and direct link to the copy of the redacted ECG Screen Grab. I've redacted it to exclude my personally identifiable information.

[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/sdldhv.jpg[/IMG]

http://tinypic.com/r/sdldhv/8

[MichelleP_3811]

When I looked it up bundle branch block is what came up a lot but I do see that it isn't the only reason for the interpretation which is why I am glad is something wrong chimed in.  I do not read ecgs and do know they can give false positive readings so it is best to have them interpreted by someone trained to read them.  I might even ask your doctor to explain it all better for you.  Did they suggest further investigation with a cardiologist?  It might be prudent to go see one so you can have the heart fully evaluated.

[is_something_wrong]

I'm so sorry for this - I don't like correcting anyone on this board, especially not such a warm, skilled and helpful member as Michelle is.

But IVCD is not associated with any bundle branch blocks. It's simply a slightly widened QRS complex in the absence of bundle branch blocks.

It's usually described as a little flaw in an otherwise normal EKG. For some reason the ventricular tissue conducts electricity a little slower than usual. Which also may be the cause of the slightly long (or high normal) QT time, as the QRS interval is included in the QT. The repolarization time can still be completely normal.

As your electrical axis is also somewhat leftwards, it might be that you have a large left ventricular muscle size. You could ask your doctor, and also get your cardiac events diagnosed.

[MichelleP_3811]

I am sorry I can't read your ecg but from what I have read one of the biggest reasons for Intraventricular Conduction Delay is a bundle branch block.  When the signal gets initiated it goes to the avnode which then distributes the signal to the 2 ventricles at the same speed.  If one of the pathways to one of ventricles has a block it can disrupt the timing of the ventricles to contract.  They essentially don't contract at the same time.  This can, in some cases, cause a person to fall into an arrhythmia but not always.  If it doesn't cause an arrhythmia or it is an intermittent block it is very likely no intervention beyond keeping an eye on things would be necessary.  This said, I would make an appointment with a cardiologist to get fully evaluated.  As well maybe someone with ecg training can jump in and give their thoughts on your ecg results.   Best of luck sorting it out.  Keep us posted on how you are doing.