Electrocardiography Pitfalls and Artifacts: the 10 Commandments

Overview

Journal Crit Care Nurse

Specialties Critical Care
Nursing

Date 2009 Feb 3

PMID 19182282

Citations 11

Authors

Adrian Baranchuk

Catherine Shaw

Haitham Alanazi

Debra Campbell

Kathy Bally

Damian P Redfearn

Christopher S Simpson

Hoshiar Abdollah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Artifacts are common in patients who require ECG monitoring. Artifacts can simulate arrhythmias such as atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia and lead to inappropriate treatment. Electrode and lead misplacements are another common pitfall and can lead to ECG changes that may be interpreted as ischemic in origin and can mimic serious arrhythmias. A simplified algorithm (REVERSE is the mnemonic) may help clinicians correctly identify both suspected electrode misplacements and artifacts.

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