Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Junctional tachycardia electrocardiogram
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Electrocardiography
A 12 lead EKG should be obtained to evaluate the rhythm. In so far as it may alter treatment, any co-existing rhythm disturbance that may have precipitated junctional tachycardia should be ascertained such as
- The rate is >60 beats per minute
- The rate is generally regular
- The QRS complex is narrow
- Retrograde p waves may be present due to retrograde conduction from the AV node. The p waves will be inverted in leads II and III.
- The p wave may be buried within the QRS complex and may not be discernable
- AV nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) should be excluded.
EKG Examples
Shown below is an EKG depicting junctional tachycardia (rate about 115/min), dissociated from a slightly slower sinus tachycardia (rate about 107/min) producing one form of double tachycardia; pairs of ventricular capture (C) beats (5th, 6th, 19th, and 20th beats); see laddergram.
Image obtained courtesy of Jason E. Roediger, CCT,CRAT
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]