MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Pericardial effusion electrocardiogram


Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Overview

Overview

The EKG in patients with pericardial effusion may demonstrate low voltages (micro-voltages or short QRS complexes) and electrical alternans.

Electrocardiogram

Electrocardiogram

Electrical alternans is an electrocardiographic phenomenon of alternation of QRS complex amplitude or axis between beats. It is seen in cardiac tamponade and pericardial effusion and is thought to be related to changes in the ventricular electrical axis due to fluid in the pericardium.

Electrocardiographic Examples

An ECG showing electrical alternans in a person with pericardial effusion. Note the beat to beat change in the height and axis of the QRS complexes.


An ECG showing electrical alternans in a person with pericardial effusion. Note the beat to beat change in the height and axis of the QRS complexes.


An example of electrical alternans. Note the beat to beat change in the height and axis of the QRS complexes.


References

References

Template:WikiDoc Sources

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

Imprint

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH