Deviation of the electrical axis of the heart to the left: causes, diagnosis, treatment

The mean electrical axis of the QRS complex is the basic measurement required for every electrocardiogram. In most healthy individuals it is between -30° and +100°. An angle of -30° or more negative is described as axis deviation to the left , and an angle of +100° or more positive is described as axis deviation to the right . In other words, axis deviation to the left is an altered position of the average electrical axis of the QRS complex in people with a horizontal position of the electrical axis of the heart. Axis deviation to the right is an altered position of the average electrical axis of the QRS complex in people with a vertical position of the electrical axis of the heart.

The position of the average electrical axis of the QRS complex depends on the anatomical position of the heart and the direction of propagation of the impulse through the ventricles (direction of ventricular depolarization).

General information about pathology

Cardiologists see the chest as a three-dimensional coordinate system that contains the heart. Each contraction is accompanied by a number of bioelectrical changes, which change the direction of the cardiac axis.

What is the electrical axis of the heart

The electrical axis of the heart describes the functioning of the organ based on its size and functioning characteristics. It is almost identical to the axis of the organ’s location in the body. The parameter shows the electrical processes that bring the heart muscle to work.

It is checked using an electrocardiogram. Sensors are attached to various areas of the chest and take readings. After which, on the transcript, the doctor determines the axes and sees whether there are any deviations from the norm.

Normal electrical axis of the heart

Normally, the axis of the heart should almost completely coincide with the axis of the location of the organ in the chest. The cardiac muscle is located semi-vertically. The lower part looks down and to the left. Accordingly, the EOS should also be tilted down and to the left.

The alpha angle normally ranges from 0° to 90°.

Vertical position of the EOS

In people with a thin build, tall stature and long limbs, the heart axis may be vertical. The alpha angle will normally range from +70° to + 90°. It is also normal during exhalation and when a person gets up from a horizontal position.

Horizontal position of the EOS

The horizontal position of the EOS is typical for stocky and plump people with short stature. The alpha angle norm will correspond to the range from 0 to +30°.

It also appears when a person lies down and the internal organs put pressure on the diaphragm and at the moment of full inhalation.

What does a sharp deviation mean?

Any deviations more or less from the norm indicate disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle. A minus angle indicates that the EOS is excessively tilted to the left. Values above +90° indicate a tilt to the right.

Often these values are not indicated in the ECG interpretation. Doctors in conclusion simply write about axis deviation to the left or right.

A sharp deviation in EOS is not a diagnosis in itself, but can be a symptom of problems such as:

left ventricular hypertrophy;
disturbances in the functioning of the left ventricular valves, due to which the volume of blood in the department increases;
failures in electrical conductivity;
cardiac blockades.

ECG interpretation

Interpretation of ECG results in a child: norms of indicators and causes of violations

Electrocardiography (ECG) is a fast and high-quality way to obtain information about the functioning of the heart.
Often, such an examination is prescribed to children to identify a particular heart disease. It has some differences from the ECG of an adult. Parents of babies should know what this procedure is, how to properly prepare their child for it, and how the cardiogram results are interpreted. In what cases is an ECG prescribed for a child?

The pediatrician prescribes an ECG for children in certain cases. These include:

heart murmurs;
dizziness;
headaches and fainting;
fast fatiguability;
pain in the chest area;
swelling of the limbs;
frequent infectious diseases;
preparation for surgery;
hereditary predisposition to cardiovascular pathologies;
high pressure;
endocrine system disorders;
slow physical development.

Children are also given an ECG before being discharged from the maternity hospital to exclude heart defects and during a routine medical examination before entering kindergarten or school. A cardiac examination is also indicated before starting sports.

Features of the child’s body that should be taken into account during an ECG

The work of the heart in young children has its own characteristics. Compared to the heartbeat of adults, it is much faster in babies. For clarity, below is a table of normal heart rate indicators depending on a person’s age:

Age	Normal heart rate, beats per minute	Average heart rate, beats per minute
0-1 month	110-170	140
1-12 months	102-162	132
1-2 years	94-154	124
2-4 years	90-140	115
4-6 years	86-126	106
6-8 years	78-118	98
8-10 years	68-108	88
10-12 years	60-100	80
12-15 years	55-95	75
15-50 years	60-80	70
50-60 years	64-84	74
60-80 years	69-89	79

An ECG in the first year of life does not allow doctors to miss a congenital defect or other heart disease

Norms and interpretation of ECG indicators for children of different ages

The diagnosis is made taking into account indicators such as teeth, segments and intervals. Their presence or absence, height, location, duration, sequence and direction are taken into account.

Heart problems are identified by analyzing the following data:

Sinus rhythm. This is the rhythmic contraction of the heart muscle under the influence of the sinus node. This indicator allows you to evaluate the nature of contractions of the ventricles and atria.
Heart rate in children of different ages.
Source of excitation. It is determined by examining the P wave.
Cardiac conduction.
Electric axis. In leads 1 and 3, the Q, R and S waves are analyzed, which makes it possible to evaluate the functioning of the His bundle.

Only an experienced specialist should interpret the results of the electrocardiogram.

Interpretation of ECG results is carried out by a competent cardiologist who knows the specifics of the functioning of the heart in each age group. On the cardiogram, the processes occurring in the heart muscle are indicated by capital letters of the Latin alphabet - P, Q, R, S, T. Each designation on the diagram indicates certain processes:

ventricular relaxation - T;
contraction and relaxation of the atria - P;
excitation of the septum between the ventricles – Q, S;
ventricular excitation – R;
duration of passage of an electrical impulse from the atria to the ventricles - PQ;
relaxation of the heart muscle in the interval between contractions - TP;
peak excitation of the ventricle – ST;
the duration of its contraction is QRST.

The psycho-emotional state of the child can negatively affect the accuracy of ECG readings

ECG results can be affected by factors such as the time of day, the psycho-emotional state of a small patient, food intake, incorrect application or displacement of electrodes, and interference from operating foreign devices. The following indicators are normal for a child:

for QRS – 0.06–0.1 s;
for P – ≤ 0.1 s;
for PQ – 0.2 s;
for QT – ≤ 0.4 s.

ECG results often indicate a poor cardiogram with deviations from the norm. In this case, if necessary, the child is prescribed an additional examination, and then the optimal treatment method is selected.

Possible causes of rhythm disturbances and other parameters on the ECG in a child

Electrocardiography in children often reveals heart rhythm disturbances. The causes of disorders are divided into cardiac and extracardiac. The first type of factors provoking arrhythmia include:

birth defects;
autoimmune and other pathologies of the heart;
heart tumors and injuries;
severe infectious diseases;
anomaly of organ development;
carrying out probing and contrast X-ray examination of blood vessels.

ECG allows timely detection of heart rhythm disturbances

Extracardiac causes of arrhythmia are pathologies of the nervous and endocrine systems, blood diseases, and premature birth. Intense exercise also makes the heart rhythm irregular. Along with this, high air temperature, emotional stress and the simultaneous course of heart disease and failure of the neurohumoral regulation of the heart can provoke arrhythmia.

Electrocardiography often records tachycardia (we recommend reading: how does sinus tachycardia manifest itself in children on an ECG?). The cardiac causes of the disease are similar to the factors that provoke the development of arrhythmia. Extracardiac sources of the disease include:

acidosis;
low blood sugar levels and disturbances in its electrolyte composition (we recommend reading: what is the normal blood sugar level for a 12-year-old child?);
diseases of the endocrine system;
tonsillitis and conditions arising after a sore throat;
neurotoxicosis;
intoxication syndrome with elevated temperature;
side effects of a number of medications.

In accordance with the ECG results, the pediatric cardiologist prescribes the necessary treatment

An ECG can detect bradycardia. Among the most common causes of the disease are:

disruption of the nervous and endocrine systems;
high intracranial pressure;
diagnosis of hypoxia at birth and a tendency to bradycardia during pregnancy;
infectious diseases;
severe hypothermia;
large dosages of potent medications or their prolonged use;
rapid growth of internal organs;
circulatory disorders in the brain;
malfunction of the thyroid gland.

Often, a child’s heart rate deviates from the norm after a strong fright, holding his breath for a long time and under the influence of vivid emotions and events experienced during the day. These phenomena are temporary and do not indicate pathology.

Heart diseases in children that can be detected by taking an ECG

Based on the cardiogram indicators, the doctor can determine this or that disease in the child.

Heart rhythm disturbances

In medical practice, this condition is called extrasystole. In this case, the patient periodically feels an increase in heart rate with its subsequent freezing. Extraordinary contraction is caused by impaired conduction of cardiac impulses.

In rare cases of arrhythmia attacks, there is no danger to health. Attention should be paid to regularly recurring disturbances in heart rhythm, accompanied by shortness of breath, pain and other negative symptoms.

Arrhythmia

With this pathology, changes in the periodicity of sinus rhythm occur, while the arrival of cardiac impulses occurs at different frequencies. Arrhythmia is sometimes asymptomatic and does not require special treatment. Only in 30% of cases does this condition cause serious health consequences. On the ECG, arrhythmia is manifested by the following deviations:

the distance between RR intervals is more than 0.16 sec;
adjacent RR intervals are marked;
between cardio intervals from 0.3 to 0.6 sec;
the difference between successive RR intervals is more than 62%;
the difference between the maximum and minimum RR interval is 780 ms over a recording time of 5 minutes.

Bradycardia

The disease is a type of arrhythmia, with the patient experiencing a decrease in heart rate to 60 beats/min or lower. Sometimes bradycardia is explained by recording an ECG during sleep. Patients with a heart rate less than 40 beats/min experience dizziness, lethargy, fainting, difficulty breathing and other unpleasant symptoms.

Tachycardia

Unlike bradycardia, this disease is accompanied by an acceleration of the heart rate. Temporary tachycardia can be caused by severe physical exertion, psycho-emotional overload, infectious and viral diseases, accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Depending on the age of the child, the following indicators indicate tachycardia:

newborns – above 170 beats/min;
children under one year old – above 160 beats/min;
children under 2 years old – above 155 beats/min;
4-6 years – above 125 beats/min;
6-8 years – above 118 beats/min;
8-10 years – above 110 beats/min;
10-12 years – 100 beats/min;
12-15 years – above 95 beats/min.

When an ECG indicating the presence of tachycardia is obtained, a repeat study is often performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Cardiac conduction disorder

Normally, the main part of the heart through which electrical impulses pass that excite the atria and ventricles is the sinus node. If this process is disrupted, the patient feels weak, the child experiences a decrease in motor activity, dizziness, lethargy, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

In any case, after taking an ECG for a child, the result must be shown to the attending doctor, who will make or clarify the diagnosis, prescribe a treatment plan, and set a date for control measures.

Symptoms and manifestations

A cardiogram allows you to detect a sharp deviation of the electrical axis of the heart to the left. But besides it, there are a number of manifestations that may indicate a deviation.

Manifestations on the ECG

An electrocardiogram is a recording of changes in potential differences during the process of excitation and relaxation of the atria and ventricles, caused by the electromotive force of the heart (EMF) from the surface of the human body.

Impulses on the cardiogram are displayed in the form of teeth of various sizes:

positive – P, R, T – directed upward relative to the isoline;

negative – Q, S.

During an ECG, the impulse is placed in three planes:

I – left-right hand;

II – left leg – right hand;

III – left leg – left arm.

With a levogram, the following picture can be observed: RI>RII>RIII, SIII>RIII.

In children

In children, left-sided axis deviation is most often associated with congenital heart defects. The alpha angle can be up to -90°.

When the position of the ventricles changes, the axis deviates by an angle from 0 to -20°. With changes in the atria, the axis deviates to -60°.

Clinical manifestations

Axis deviation in itself has no manifestations. Since it is one of the symptoms of other diseases, symptoms may vary.

With coronary heart disease, pressing pain appears behind the sternum. It intensifies with stress or physical activity and goes away in a calm state.

Heart defects of varying degrees may be accompanied by shortness of breath, swelling, and the appearance of a wet cough when lying on the back. If the defect is mild, there may be no symptoms at all, and EOS declines gradually.

With hypertension, the patient has increased blood pressure, which is accompanied by headaches and weakness.

Pathological deviations of the axis: what do they mean and what are the consequences?

The situation itself cannot serve as a basis for making a specific diagnosis, only indicating the presence of electrical disturbances. No cardiologist will convince you of the presence of pathology only based on EOS. To establish the fact of the disease, it is necessary to support the examination conclusion with the correct clinical interview and additional diagnostic measures.

The position of the EOS is influenced by a number of factors:

congenital heart defects;
secondary changes in the anatomical relationships between the right and left parts of the heart;
abnormal location of organs in the chest cavity (dextrocardia, vicarious emphysema after lobectomy);
chest deformation (kyphosis, scoliosis, carinatum or funnel-shaped curvature);
disruptions in the conduction system of the organ (especially in the Hiss bundles), which cause heartbeat disturbances;
cardiomyopathies of various origins;
long history of hypertension and coronary heart disease (CHD);
chronic heart failure;
respiratory diseases with an obstructive component (COPD, bronchial asthma, emphysema);
decompensated liver failure (ascites, flatulence).

What diseases cause disturbances?

Deviation of the electrical axis of the heart to the left (levogram) (angle α from 0 to -300) has several reasons:

Hypertrophy of the left half of the heart. Angle α is directly proportional to the degree of growth of LV mass. The pathology develops with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, arterial hypertension, excessive stress (“athletic heart”), coronary artery disease, and cardiosclerosis.
Myocardial infarction (with necrosis along the posterior wall).
Pathology of intracardiac conduction. Most often this is a blockade of the left leg or the anterior superior branch of the Hiss bundle.
Ventricular tachycardia.
Valvular heart defects.
Myocarditis.

There is also a sharp deviation of the EOS to the left when the angle α > -300.

Deviation of the electrical axis of the heart to the right (rightogram) (angle α > +900) is observed when:

Failures in the conduction of nerve impulses along the fibers of the Hiss bundle.
Pulmonary stenosis (when pressure in the right ventricle increases).
IBS.
Myocardial infarction of the right sections.
Cardiorespiratory diseases that have formed a “pulmonary heart” (in this case, the LV does not function fully and overload of the right ventricle occurs).
Thromboembolism of the branches of the pulmonary artery (due to blockage, gas exchange in the lungs is disrupted, the vessels of the pulmonary circulation narrow and overload of the pancreas occurs).
Mitral valve stenosis (after rheumatic fever). The fusion of the leaflets prevents the complete expulsion of blood from the left atrium, which causes pulmonary hypertension and overloads the RV.

A sharp deviation of the EOS to the right is observed at the angle α = +1200.

It is worth remembering that none of the above diseases can be diagnosed based solely on the position of the EOS. This parameter is only an auxiliary criterion in identifying any pathological process.

Reasons for shift to the left

The reasons for the displacement of the EOS to the left side can be caused by both heart disease and physiological conditions.

Heart diseases

The reasons for a pronounced deviation of the electrical axis to the left can be:

Increased pressure in blood vessels. Occurs due to disruption of the kidneys or hormonal system, as well as hypertension.
Heart defects of various nature. Improper functioning of the valves leads to stagnation of blood in the ventricles, between the atria or in the vessels. As a result, the chambers enlarge and muscle growth begins.
Cardiac ischemia. Due to insufficient blood flow in the heart muscle, the connective fibers in the walls increase. The organ becomes heavier and deviates.
Cardiomyopathy. In this disease, the heart chambers and muscle walls become enlarged due to structural abnormalities.
Myocarditis. The walls of the heart become inflamed. Not all doctors can diagnose the disease. To identify it, a special study is required.
Myocardial infarction localized in the left ventricle.

Physiological conditions

If the EOS is slightly deviated, this can be considered a variant of the norm. This deviation can occur in athletes, as well as in people with an asthenic body type.

Axis shifts can be associated with deep inhalation and exhalation, when the diaphragm greatly expands and contracts, resulting in pressure on the internal organs. In a horizontal position, the axis also tilts to the left.

In what cases is EOS deviated in children?

In newborns, the deviation of the electrical axis of the heart to the right is considered normal. This is due to the fact that the right ventricle in childhood is heavier than the left. In the second year of life, the EOS begins to level out. And by the age of six, the heart occupies the correct position in the chest.

What should its normal position be?

The anatomical structure of the heart is such that its left ventricle weighs more than the right. Therefore, the electrical excitation on the left side of the organ is stronger.

Graphically, this is expressed in the fact that the axis is directed diagonally to the left and down. If you look at the vector projection, the left side of the heart is located in the area from +30 to +70 degrees. This is the normal value for an adult.

The position of the axis also depends on the individual characteristics of physiology.

The direction of EOS is influenced by the following factors:

Pulse speed.
The ability of the heart muscle to contract.
Features of the structure of the spine, chest, internal organs that interact with the heart.

Taking these factors into account, the normal axis value ranges from 0 to +90 degrees.

In a healthy person, the EOS can be in one of the following positions:

Normal - the angle of deviation from the coordinate axis is from +30 to +70 degrees.
Intermediate - from +15 to +60.
Vertical - between +70 and +90. This is typical for thin people with a narrow chest.
Horizontal - from 0 to + 30 degrees. It occurs in people with a wide chest and short stature.

In newborns, deviation of the EOS to the right is often observed. By one or two years, she moves to a vertical position. After children reach the age of three, the axis usually returns to its normal position.

This is due to the growth of the heart, in particular, with an increase in the mass of the left ventricle.

Diagnostics

Deviation of the heart axis to the left is diagnosed first of all by performing an electrocardiogram. A cardiologist determines the angle of deviation in several ways.

Visual definition

Visual comparison of the R and S waves is a simple and clear way. However, it does not detect deviation accurately. When the EOS deviates to the left, you can see a picture of RI - SIII on the cardiogram, which means the R-type of the ventricular complex in the first lead and the S-type in the third.

Alpha angle offset detection

Calculating the alpha angle allows you to accurately determine the degree of deviation. Diagnostic doctors find the algebraic sum of the teeth in the first and third standard leads. They calculate the height of the teeth in mm, then add the resulting values. The final result is substituted into the table according to Diede and the alpha angle is calculated.

Sinus rhythm on ECG

Sinus rhythm characterizes oscillations that arise from impulses in a certain node and diverge through the atrium and ventricle. As a result, the heart muscle contracts. Sinus rhythm disturbances indicate arrhythmia or blockade.

The importance of the cardiac conduction system for determining EOS

The conduction system of the heart is necessary for the autonomous generation of electrical impulses and their distribution to all parts of the muscle. However, if the left ventricle is enlarged, it takes longer for electrical impulses to reach it. Consequently, the normal ventricle depolarizes much earlier than the hypertrophied ventricle, which remains electropositive. Due to this, a powerful vector is formed directed towards the hypertrophied ventricle, and the electrical axis of the heart is deviated towards the hypertrophied ventricle.

Signs of displacement on the ECG

The angle of the electrical axis and its direction are the main characteristics when deciphering the ECG.

The interpretation of the cardiogram is given by a cardiologist. To do this, he uses special diagrams and tables designed to determine the displacement of the EOS.

The diagnostician examines the QRS waves on the electrocardiogram. This is a set of symbols that shows the sinus rhythm of the heart and displays the polarization of the ventricles.

QRS waves characterize their contraction or relaxation. R – tooth directed upward (positive), Q, S – negative, or directed downward. Q is before R and S is after it. Based on these signs, the cardiologist judges how the axis is shifting.

Deviation of the electrical axis of the heart to the right occurs if R is greater in the third lead than in the first. If the highest R amplitude is in the second lead, the EOS corresponds to the normal position.

Additional diagnostic methods - a set of examinations

Based on the indications of axis deviation to the left, it is impossible to reliably determine what changes are occurring in the heart muscle. Therefore, cardiologists prescribe a number of additional examinations.

Ultrasound. Allows you to determine how enlarged the ventricles are and how their contractile function is impaired.
Electrocardiogram with exercise (walking on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike). Allows you to detect coronary heart disease.
Chest X-ray. If the tissue is significantly enlarged, the shadow of the heart will be larger.
24-hour Holter ECG monitoring. Performed in case of significant cardiac dysfunction src=”https://infoserdce.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/foto-7.jpg” class=”aligncenter” width=”375″ height=”510″[ /img]
KAG. Also necessary for diagnosing coronary artery disease.
Echocardioscopy. Allows you to fully assess the condition of all components of the heart muscle.

Treatment

Since deviation of the EOS to the left is not a disease, it is necessary to understand the reasons for its occurrence. And only after a thorough diagnosis, doctors prescribe treatment for the identified disease.

Coronary heart disease, cardiopathy and heart failure are treated with medications. In addition, you need to follow a diet and daily routine, avoid stress and give up bad habits.

Congenital and acquired heart defects often require surgical intervention. In particularly difficult cases, a pacemaker is installed. The device sends signals to the heart muscle, thereby causing it to contract.

If the axis deviation occurs abruptly, the patient may have a heart attack. This condition requires urgent hospitalization and threatens cardiac arrest.

If EOS deviation is asymptomatic, there is no need to worry. However, it is necessary to constantly monitor the work of the heart and do an ECG at least once a year. Such prevention will make it possible to identify serious diseases in time and begin their treatment.

Possible consequences and complications

The main threat to the body is not the deviation of the axis to the left, but the diseases that accompany it. Enlargement of the left ventricle can cause the following consequences:

severe heart failure;
angina pectoris;
arrhythmia;
death due to cardiac arrest.

All these consequences are interconnected and follow from one another. Therefore, if the ECG revealed a deviation of the heart axis to the left, it is necessary to undergo additional examinations. They will allow you to identify the true cause of the changes and prescribe the necessary treatment in time.

Diseases accompanied by levogram

Most patients are trying to understand what it means when the electrical axis of the heart is deviated to the left and what diseases this is associated with. The most common cause is hypertension. When blood pressure is constantly elevated, the load on the left chambers of the heart muscle increases. Which leads to an enlargement of the ventricle and atrium. Accordingly, the electrical axis of the heart shifts to the left.

Acquired heart defects associated with the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques also lead to an increase in the hemodynamic load on the left ventricle. This occurs due to damage to the aortic and mitral valve.

Myocarditis leads to inflammation of the walls of the heart muscle. Accordingly, the tissues increase in volume and hypertrophy occurs. The disease can only be determined in special cardiology centers by undergoing a scintigraphic examination.

Author of the article: Yulia Dmitrieva (Sych) - In 2014, she graduated with honors from Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky. Currently working as a cardiologist at the 8th City Clinical Hospital in the 1st clinic.

Effect of direction of ventricular depolarization

It can be confirmed in case of incomplete blockade of the anterior branch of the left ventricle, when the propagation of impulses along the upper left parts of the left ventricle is impaired and the average electrical axis of the QRS complex is deviated to the left (see section “Impaired intraventricular conduction”). On the contrary, with pancreatic hypertrophy it is deviated to the right.