• Heart Failure
• ECG and Heart Failure
• ECG Triad and Heart Failure

Heart Failure

• Heart failure (HF) is a condition where the heart as a pump is unable to adequately circulate blood
• for the needs of the body (tissues)
  
  
• HF is classified by mechanism into:
• Systolic HF (There is reduced cardiac output during systole)
• The ventricles are unable to contract adequately during systole
• Diastolic HF (There is reduced filling of the heart during diastole)
• The ventricles are unable to dilate adequately during diastole
• HF is classified by affected heart chambers into:
• Left-sided HF (The left ventricle is unable to pump blood effectively)
• Blood accumulates before the left side of the heart in the lungs
• Patients have shortness of breath
• Right-sided HF (The right ventricle is unable to pump blood effectively)
• Blood accumulates before the right ventricle in the systemic circulation
• Patients have swelling of the lower extremities
  
  
• Most common causes of HF:
• Ischemic heart disease
• Heart valve disorders
• Cardiomyopathies
• Arterial hypertension

ECG Triad and Heart Failure

• Heart failure is characterized by the ECG triad:
• Low QRS voltage ≤8mm (in limb leads)
• High QRS voltage (in precordial leads)
• Positive Sokolow index: S(V1/2) + R(V5/6) ≥ 35mm
• Decreased R wave progression
• and R/S(V4) ratio < 1