Electrocardiographic artifacts due to electrode misplacement and their frequency in different clinical settings - 16/08/11
![](/templates/common/images/mail.png)
![](/templates/common/images/mail.png)
Abstract |
Misplacement of electrodes can change the morphology of an electrocardiogram (ECG) in clinical important ways. To assess the frequency of these errors in different clinical settings, we collected ECGs routinely performed at the cardiology outpatient clinic and the intensive care unit. Lead misplacement was suspected when one of the following morphological changes occurred: QRS axis between 180° and −90°, positive P wave in lead aVR, negative P waves in lead I and/or II, very low (<0.1 mV) amplitude in an isolated peripheral lead, or abnormal R progression in the precordial leads. We analyzed 838 ECGs and identified 37 ECGs suspicious for electrode misplacement, from which 7 were confirmed. The frequency of ECG artifacts due to switched electrodes was 0.4% (3/739) at the outpatient clinic and 4.0% (4/99) at the intensive care unit (P = .005). In conclusion, errors in ECG performance do occur with an increasing frequency in an acute medical care setting.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Plan
☆ | Dr Alain Rudiger was supported by the Stiefel Zangger and the Swiss National Science Foundations (Grant PBBSB-107757). |
Vol 25 - N° 2
P. 174-178 - février 2007 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?