Right axis deviation

The electrical axis of the heart is the net direction in which the wave of depolarization travels. It is measured using an electrocardiogram (ECG). Normally, this begins at the sinoatrial node (SA node); from here the wave of depolarisation travels down to the apex of the heart. The hexaxial reference system can be used to visualise the directions in which the depolarisation wave may travel.

Right axis deviation
Hexaxial reference system

On a hexaxial diagram (see figure 1):

  • If the electrical axis falls between the values of -30° to +90° this is considered normal.
  • If the electrical axis is between -30° to -90° this is considered left axis deviation.
  • If the electrical axis is between +90° to +180° this is considered right axis deviation (RAD).

RAD is an ECG finding that arises either as an anatomically normal variant or an indicator of underlying pathology.

Signs, symptoms and risk factors

There are often no symptoms for RAD and it is usually found by chance during an ECG. Many of the symptoms exhibited by patients with RAD are associated with its different causes. The table below displays the four most common causes and the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with it.

Signs and symptoms Risk factors
Lateral myocardial infarction Anxiety

Chest pain

Fatigue

Shortness of breath[1]

 Smoking or Tobacco

Obesity

Gender

Hypertension

Diabetes

Physical activity

Age

Alcohol

Right ventricular hypertrophy Shortness of breath

Dizziness

Fainting

 Chronic lung disease (COPD)[2]

Pulmonary hypertension

Mitral stenosis

Pulmonary embolism

Congenital heart disease

Arrythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy

Fascicular Block Light-headedness

Fainting

Palpitations[3]

 Hereditary bundle branch block
Pre-excitation Syndromes Asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White[4]
Other causes Variable Ectopic ventricular beats

Drug toxicity (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants[5])

Hyperkalaemia

Causes

Fascicular block
Main article: Left posterior fascicular block

Blockage of the left posterior fascicle would lead to activation of the anterior portion of the left ventricle followed by activation of the rest of the ventricle in a superior to inferior direction and directed towards the right. This would lead to right axis deviation findings on an ECG.[6] Bifascicular block is a combination of right bundle branch block and either left anterior fascicular block or left posterior fascicular block. Conduction to the ventricle would therefore be via the remaining fascicle. The ECG will show typical features of RBBB plus either left or right axis deviation.[7][8]

Lateral myocardial infarction

The lateral wall of the left ventricle is supplied by branches of the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) arteries.[8] Infarction of the lateral wall will thus lead to deviation of the axis away from the site of infarction.[9]

Right ventricular hypertrophy
Main article: Right ventricular hypertrophy

Increased thickness of the right ventricle leads to right axis deviation

Pre-excitation syndromes
Main article: Pre-excitation syndromes

Pre-excitation refers to early activation of the ventricles due to impulses bypassing the AV node via an accessory pathway.[10] Accessory pathways are abnormal conduction pathways formed during cardiac development. An example of pre-excitation syndromes is Wolff Parkinson White syndrome. Here, the presence of a left lateral accessory pathway leads to right-axis deviation.[11]

Ventricular tachycardia
Main article: Ventricular tachycardia

Fascicular tachycardia usually arises from the posterior fascicle of the left bundle branch. They produce QRS complexes of relatively short durations with a right bundle branch block pattern. Tachycardias originating in the anterior left fascicle would lead to right axis deviation.

Right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia originates from the outflow tract of the right ventricle or the tricuspid annulus. As it arises from the right ventricle, the impulse spreads inferiorly from beneath the pulmonary valve, and there right axis deviation.[12]

Ventricular ectopy
Main article: Premature ventricular contraction

Ventricular ectopy is when the heartbeat is an abnormal heartbeat where the QRS complex is significantly wider. When the origin of the ectopic heartbeat is in the anterior fascicule then there is right axis deviation.[13]

Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology depends on the specific cause of right axis deviation. Most causes can be attributed to one of four main mechanisms.[14][15] These include right ventricular hypertrophy, reduced muscle mass of left ventricle, altered conduction pathways and change in the position of the heart in the chest.

Right ventricular hypertrophy

Enlargement of right ventricular myocardial mass can result in right axis deviation. There are 2 main reasons for this mechanism.[15] Firstly, more muscle mass will result in greater amplitude of depolarisation of that side of the heart.[15] Secondly, depolarisation of the heart will be slower through the right ventricle relative to the left, and therefore the effects of the right ventricle on the axis of the heart will be dominant.[15]

Left ventricular atrophy

Decrease in myocardial mass of the left ventricle will shift the balance of depolarisation towards the right. For example, scarring and atrophy caused by ischaemia of the left ventricle will cause depolarisation of the left side of the heart to be less forceful.[15] Hence, depolarisation of the right ventricle will be greater in amplitude than left, shifting the axis to the right.

Conduction abnormalities

Changes in the conduction pathways of the heart can result in right axis deviation. For example, an accessory pathway from the left atrium to the left ventricle, as in Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, will result in the left ventricle finishing depolarisation earlier than the right.[16] Hence, the right ventricle will have more of an effect on the axis of the heart.

Position of heart in the chest

The apex of the heart is normally orientated towards the left. A more vertical orientation of the heart, shifts the axis to the right. Physiologically, this can occur in tall and thin individuals.[16] Pathologically, conditions such as a left-sided pneumothorax and lung hyperinflation (e.g. COPD)[17] can cause rightwards displacement of the heart. The congenital condition of dextrocardia results in right axis deviation.

Diagnosis
ECG showing right axis deviation

In general, a positive (upwards) deflection of an ECG trace demonstrates an electrical activity that moves towards the measuring electrode, whereas a negative (downwards) deflection of an ECG trace demonstrates an electrical activity that moves away from the measuring electrode. The electrical heart axis can be estimated from the ECG by using the quadrant method or degree method.[18]

  1. Quadrant Method:[19] Leads I and II are usually observed. If lead I is positive (translating to 0° on the hexaxial reference system) and lead II is positive (translating to 60°), the electrical heart axis is estimated to fall in the left lower quadrant within the normal range. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, if lead I is negative (translating to 180°) and lead II is positive, the electrical heart axis is estimated to fall in the right lower quadrant suggesting a right axis deviation. Similarly, leads I and aVF can be used.
  2. Degree method: First, identify the lead with the smallest QRS complex or isoelectric (flat) QRS complex (lead a). After locating the axis of the lead on the hexaxial reference system, identify the lead which is perpendicular to it (lead b). If lead b is positive, the electrical heart axis can be estimated to lie within the quadrant between axis of lead a and lead b.

A simple tool to quickly identify axis deviation (Figure 3) is the popular mnemonic; Reaching for Right Axis Deviation and Leaving for Left Axis Deviation. This refers to the appearance of leads I and III. If the QRS complex is negative in lead I and positive in lead III, the QRS complexes appear to be "reaching" to touch each other. This signifies right axis deviation. Conversely, if the QRS complex is positive in lead I and negative in lead III. the leads have the appearance of "leaving" each other. If the QRS complex in lead II is also negative, this confirms a left axis deviation.

See also

References
  1. Kirchberger, Inge; Heier, Margit; Kuch, Bernhard; Scheidt, Wolfgang von; Meisinger, Christa (2012). "Presenting symptoms of myocardial infarction predict short- and long-term mortality: The MONICA/KORA Myocardial Infarction Registry". American Heart Journal. 164 (6): 856–861. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2012.06.026. PMID 23194485.
  2. Agarwal, R.L.; Kumar, Dinesh; Gurpreet; Agarwal, D.K.; Chabra, G.S. (2008-01-01). "Diagnostic Values of Electrocardiogram in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)". Lung India. 25 (2): 78–81. doi:10.4103/0970-2113.44125. ISSN 0970-2113. PMC 2822322. PMID 20165655.
  3. Topol, Eric J.; Califf, Robert M. (2007-01-01). Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781770125.
  4. Steurer, G.; Frey, B.; Gürsoy, S.; Tsakonas, K.; Celiker, A.; Andries, E.; Kuck, K.; Brugada, P. (1994-11-01). "Cardiac depolarization and repolarization in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome". American Heart Journal. 128 (5): 908–911. doi:10.1016/0002-8703(94)90588-6. ISSN 0002-8703. PMID 7942483.
  5. Thanacoody, H. K. Ruben; Thomas, Simon H. L. (2005-01-01). "Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning : cardiovascular toxicity". Toxicological Reviews. 24 (3): 205–214. doi:10.2165/00139709-200524030-00013. ISSN 1176-2551. PMID 16390222. S2CID 44532041.
  6. Kusumoto, Fred M. (2009-04-21). ECG Interpretation: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Application. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9780387888804.
  7. Burns, Ed. "Lateral STEMI". Life In The Fast Lane. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  8. Burns, Ed (2015-07-04). "Bifascicular Block". Life In The Fast Lane. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  9. Chugh, S. N. (2014-05-14). Textbook of Clinical Electrocardiography. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. ISBN 9789350906088.
  10. Burns, Ed (2016-05-31). "Pre-excitation Syndromes". Life In The Fast Lane. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  11. Lilly, Leonard S. (2015-06-25). Braunwald's Heart Disease Review and Assessment. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 9780323375405.
  12. Bennett, David H. (2006-09-29). Cardiac Arrhythmias 7th Edition: Practical Notes on Interpretation and Treatment. CRC Press. ISBN 9781444113464.
  13. Conover, Mary Boudreau (2003-01-01). Understanding Electrocardiography. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0323019057.
  14. Kossmann, Charles E.; Berger, Adolph R.; Brumlik, Joseph; Briller, Stanley A. (February 1948). "An analysis of causes of right axis deviation based partly on endocardial potentials of the hypertrophied right ventricle". American Heart Journal. 35 (2): 309–335. doi:10.1016/0002-8703(48)90108-2. PMID 18901116.
  15. Hall, John E. (2016). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (13 ed.). Elsevier. pp. 144–147. ISBN 978-1-4557-7016-8.
  16. Kuhn, Lisa; Rose, Louise (December 2008). "ECG Interpretation Part 1: Understanding Mean Electrical Axis". Journal of Emergency Nursing. 34 (6): 530–534. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.666.5964. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2008.01.007. PMID 19022076.
  17. Harrigan, Richard A (May 18, 2002). "Conditions affecting the right side of the heart - ProQuest". BMJ. 324 (7347): 1201–1204. doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7347.1201. PMC 1123164. PMID 12016190. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  18. M Allen, Diane; et al. (2011). ECG Made Incredibly Easy (PDF). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 264–271. ISBN 978-1-60831-289-4. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  19. Burns, Ed (2016-06-28). "ECG Axis Interpretation". Life in the Fast Lane. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
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