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Several areas of cardiology use simple letter terms and alphanumeric terms that need not be expanded at first mention. | International standardization of electrocardiographic nomenclature dates back to the mid-20th century. The preferred abbreviation for electrocardiogram and electrocardiographic in JAMA and the Archives Journals is ECG, not EKG. In the following examples of ECG terms note the use of capitals, lowercase letters, subscripts, and hyphens. Leads (recording electrodes) are designated as follows: Example: The abnormality appeared in leads V3 through V6 [not V3-V6 or V3-6]. The main deflections of the ECG (see Figure ) are named in alphabetical sequence (P, Less

International standardization of electrocardiographic nomenclature dates back to the mid-20th century. The preferred abbreviation for electrocardiogram and electrocardiographic in JAMA and the Archives Journals is ECG, not EKG. In the following examples of ECG terms note the use of capitals, lowercase letters, subscripts, and hyphens. Leads (recording electrodes) are designated as follows: Example: The abnormality appeared in leads V3 through V6 [not V3-V6 or V3-6]. The main deflections of the ECG (see Figure ) are named in alphabetical sequence (P, Q, R, S, T, U), a usage that dates back to the inventor, Willem Einthoven. Other deflections use initial letters Less

Electrogram (EGM) terms pertain to invasive electrophysiologic recording of cardiac impulse conduction. Expand them at first mention. |

The 4 heart sounds and 4 components are commonly abbreviated in discussions of cardiac auscultatory findings; numerical subscripts are used.S1 first heart sound  M1 mitral valve component  T1 tricuspid valve component S2 second heart sound  A2 aortic valve component  P2 pulmonic valve component S3 third heart sound S4 fourth heart sound Examples: The presence of an audible S3was consistent with the patient’s ventricular aneurysm. An audible S4 may be due to a variety of cardiac and systemic conditions. Sound names may be written out in full when discussed generically.Third heart sounds are suggestive of congestive heart failure, but an S3gallop Less

Murmurs are graded from soft (lower grade) to loud (higher grade). Murmur grades are written in arabic numerals. Systolic murmurs may be graded from 1 to 6 (see Freeman and Levine) and diastolic murmurs from 1 to 4. Murmurs may also be presented by means of a virgule construction. Examples: grade 2 systolic murmur grade 1 diastolic murmur grade 4/6 systolic murmur grade 2/4 diastolic murmur The patient had a grade 3 systolic murmur radiating to the axilla consistent with the diagnosis of mitral valve regurgitation. | Less

The jugular venous pulse contours are expressed with italic single letters and roman words: a wave (atrial) x descent z point c wave x′ descent v wave (ventricular) y descent (or y trough) h wave Examples: prominent a wave giant a wave steep x descent increased v wave abrupt y descent | Less

The names of major echocardiographic methods are listed below. Expand any abbreviations at first mention, unless otherwise indicated. The following commonly used echocardiographic indexes should also be expanded at first mention but are included here for reference: Terms are combined as in the following examples: IVSd IVSs LVIDd LVIDed LVIDes LVIDs LVPWd LVPWs RVIDd Ejection fraction is expressed as a percentage, eg, 60% (see also , Numbers and Percentages). | Less

The capabilities and operation of cardiac pacemakers are described by 3- to 5-letter codes., DDIR pacing VVI pacemaker The code system for antibradycardia pacemakers endorsed by the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology and the British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group is known as the NASPE/BPEG Generic Code or NBG Code. Although the code need not be expanded when mentioned in passing, it is good practice to describe pacing modes in prose at first mention, eg, “dual-chamber, adaptive-rate (DDDR) pacing.” The NBG Code was revised in 2001 to apply to antibradycardia, adaptive-rate, and multisite pacing., In Table , positions I Less

A similar code, known as the NASPE/BPEG Defibrillator Code or NBD Code, exists for implanted cardioverter/defibrillators (ICDs), as defined in Table . Examples are as follows: DDH defibrillator VOEO defibrillator There is also a Short Form of the NBD Code intended only for use in conversation: ICD-B: ICD with antibradycardia pacing as well as shock ICD-T: ICD with antitachycardia pacing as well as shock and antibradycardia pacing ICD-S: ICD with shock capability only The foregoing terms can each represent a variety of devices; for instance, ICD-S could indicate VO, VOE, VOEO, DOH, or DOHV. The same devices may also be Less

The NASPE/BPEG Pacemaker-Lead Code (NBL Code) is as follows: (Reprinted from Bernstein and Parsonnet by permission of Blackwell Publishing.) Typically, all 4 positions are mentioned, eg, UPSO, BAPS. |