Premature Atrial Complex ECG

ECG Strip

Premature Atrial Complex Rhythm Strip Features

Rate: Usually normal but depends on underlying rhythm
Rhythm: Irregular
P Wave: Premature, positive and shape is abnormal
PR Interval: Normal or longer
QRS: 0.10 sec or less
This early impulse causes an early cardiac complex which disrupts the underlying rhythm.
Premature atrial contractions are a common arrhythmia with early beats. PACs are caused by ectopic atrial sites firing an electrical signal before the next normal SA node fires. PACs can occur in healthy young and elderly patients. Premature atrial contractions are also called premature atrial complexes.
External Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/heart_rhythm_disorders/page2.htm
MedicineNet

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Authors and Sources

Authors and Reviewers

EKG heart rhythm modules: Thomas O'Brien.
EKG monitor simulation developer: Steve Collmann
12 Lead Course: Dr. Michael Mazzini, MD.
Spanish language EKG: Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
Medical review: Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
Heart sounds and mentorship: W. Proctor Harvey, MD
Medical review: Dr. Pedro Azevedo, MD, Cardiology
Last Update: 1/8/2023

Sources

Electrocardiography for Healthcare Professionals, 5th Edition Kathryn Booth and Thomas O'Brien
ISBN10: 1260064778, ISBN13: 9781260064773
McGraw Hill, 2019
Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition
Dale Dublin
Cover Publishing Company
12 Lead EKG for Nurses: Simple Steps to Interpret Rhythms, Arrhythmias, Blocks, Hypertrophy, Infarcts, & Cardiac Drugs
Aaron Reed
Create Space Independent Publishing
Heart Sounds and Murmurs: A Practical Guide with Audio CD-ROM 3rd Edition
Elsevier-Health Sciences Division
Barbara A. Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN
Clinical Heart Disease W Proctor Harvey, MD
Clinical Heart Disease
Laennec Publishing; 1st edition (January 1, 2009)
The Virtual Cardiac Patient: A Multimedia Guide to Heart Sounds, Murmurs, EKG Jonathan Keroes, David Lieberman
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin)
ISBN-10: 0781784425; ISBN-13: 978-0781784429
Project Semilla, UCLA Emergency Medicine, EKG Training Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH