a. Analysis. A straight line on the electrocardiogram indicates an absence ofelectrical activity by the heart: no regularity, rate, P waves, P-R interval, or QRScomplex.

The casualty is clinically dead. He has no effective cardiac output. Normal rhythm must be restored within a few minutes by appropriate treatment.

b. Example. An example of asystole (cardiac standstill) is shown in figure 1-35.