This site is intended for healthcare professionals

CPD
CPD
Pro
Pro
account_circleSign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Ectopics (atrial)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Atrial ectopics have the following characteristics on the ECG:

  • premature P waves
  • abnormal shaped P waves
  • incomplete compensatory pause before next sinus beat

Most atrial ectopic beats will be conducted through the AVN, hence the QRS complex is normal.

Ectopic P waves occurring early in the cardiac cycle may encounter components of the conducting system which are still refractory:

  • blocked atrial ectopic - the AVN is refractory
  • prolonged P-R interval - the AVN is partially refractory
  • phasic aberrant ventricular conduction - a bundle branch, usually the right, is refractory. The QRS may resemble that of a ventricular ectopic

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.