What does the P wave look like with 2nd-degree AV block type 1?

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Multiple Choice

What does the P wave look like with 2nd-degree AV block type 1?

In this block, the P waves themselves look normal in shape and size. The hallmark is not a change in the P wave, but a progressive lengthening of the PR interval from beat to beat until a beat is dropped (no QRS after that P wave), and then the cycle restarts. So you’ll see normal-appearing P waves, with the rhythm showing gradually longer PR intervals followed by a non-conducted P wave. The key distinction is that the PR interval lengthens, not remains constant, and the P wave morphology stays normal. An inverted P wave or a normal P wave without the expected pattern wouldn’t capture the characteristic Wenckebach rhythm.

In this block, the P waves themselves look normal in shape and size. The hallmark is not a change in the P wave, but a progressive lengthening of the PR interval from beat to beat until a beat is dropped (no QRS after that P wave), and then the cycle restarts. So you’ll see normal-appearing P waves, with the rhythm showing gradually longer PR intervals followed by a non-conducted P wave. The key distinction is that the PR interval lengthens, not remains constant, and the P wave morphology stays normal. An inverted P wave or a normal P wave without the expected pattern wouldn’t capture the characteristic Wenckebach rhythm.

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