Assoc Prof Harry Mond
December 2, 2024
Group beating always provide interesting ECGsHere is an example. Try and work out what is going on.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fd2_Picture21.png)
Here is my interpretation.
- Sinus rhythm (red vertical arrows)
- Sequences of low atrial couplets (red highlight) in trigeminy.
I know of no name for these ectopy sequences, but my staff call them “atrial trigemilets”.We can also have ventricular trigemilets (red highlight)!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fd3_Picture22.png)
Remember aberration not excluded.When they occur as bigeminy (red highlight), I call them “ventricular bigemilets”.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fc1_Picture23.png)
The individual ectopics in a couplet (red highlight) may not be identical.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fd5_Picture24.png)
Obviously, the way the ectopic is conducted.Another example of possible aberration (red highlight)?
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fd4_Picture25.png)
Now let us get silly!!What do you call couplets without an intervening sinus beat (red arrow)?
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fd1_Picture26.png)
These are ventricular couplets in sequence (red highlight). Suggest Wenckebach block at the ventricular-ectopic junction, unless someone has a better explanation. (Mond, Vohra. Heart Lung and Circulation 2017; 26: 1252).Just when you thought that there were no more combinations!Ventricular triplets (red highlight) in bigeminy.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/675b0fb39c1b52376af55902/675b0fb39c1b52376af55fcd_Picture27.png)
This is complicated. The triplets have a long cycle, short cycle sequence which suggests it is Wenckebach at the ectopic-ventricular junction They are interrupted by narrow QRS complexes which are probably sinus with P waves in the previous ectopic T wave (red arrow). There may be other P waves (red stippled arrow)? The Wenckebach triplets have no dropped beats and are interpolated.Now I have a headache.Harry Mond