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Ventricular Escape Beat


This strip has several interesting features. The underlying rhythm is second degree block type two. After the fifth QRS complex, there is a brief sinus pause, and after the sixth, a lengthy one. This pause is ended by ventricular beat. A focus in the ventricles, given enough time, has depolarized, acting as the pacemaker for this beat.   The ventricles escape from atrial standstill; thus this beat is called an escape beat.  Sinus rhythm with second degree block resumes.