Sinus Arrhythmia | Reference Guide

EKG Strip

Sinus Arrhythmia Rhythm Strip Features

Rate: Normal (60-100 bpm) and rate may increase during inspiration
Rhythm: Irregular, varying with respiration
P Wave: Normal
PR Interval: Normal (0.12-0.20 sec)
QRS: Normal (0.06-0.10 sec)
Resembles Normal Sinus Rhythm with the distinction being the intervals from one cardiac complex to the next are changing as influenced by the patients respiratory pattern. Note the changing R to R Intervals.
Sinus arrhythmia is a cyclic variation on a sinus rhythm of more than 10% or 120ms due to respiratory breathing. It is common (and normal) in children. If the variation occurs independent of respiration in an adult, evaluate for sick sinus syndrome.
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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
Medical review: Dr. Pedro Azevedo, MD, Cardiology
Last Update: 11/8/2021

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
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