Certified EkG technician (CET) Practice Exam

What is a common finding in the EKG tracing of a patient with ventricular hypertrophy?

1. Increased amplitude of the QRS complex

2. Prolonged PR interval

3. Irregular R-R intervals

4. ST segment depression

The correct answer is: Increased amplitude of the QRS complex

A common finding in the EKG tracing of a patient with ventricular hypertrophy is the increased amplitude of the QRS complex. Ventricular hypertrophy occurs when the heart's ventricles become enlarged or thickened, often due to conditions such as high blood pressure or heart valve disease. This thickening of the ventricular muscle results in greater electrical activity being generated during ventricular depolarization, which is reflected in the EKG as a higher amplitude of the QRS complexes. The steep slopes and broader appearances of these complexes indicate stronger and more forceful contractions of the hypertrophied muscles. While other findings may be present in patients with different cardiac conditions or abnormalities, they do not typically denote ventricular hypertrophy specifically. For instance, a prolonged PR interval may indicate issues with the atrioventricular (AV) node, irregular R-R intervals can suggest arrhythmias, and ST segment depression generally points to ischemic changes rather than hypertrophy. Therefore, the increased amplitude of the QRS complex serves as a hallmark of ventricular hypertrophy on an EKG tracing.