Electrically Speaking
The heart is a transmitter and an EKG machine is a receiver.
What is the function of the EKG machine?
To print out a representation of electrical signals generated by the heart.
Chart speed
controls speed of paper printout. Normal chart speed is 25 millimeters per second.
Gain
Controls height of EKG waves and complexes. Normal setting is 1.
Macroshock
High-voltage electrical shock-caused by inadequate grounding of electrical equipment.
Microshock
Low-voltage shock-involves a conduit directly into the heart, such as a pacemaker.
Artifact
Unwanted interference or jitter on EKG tracing.
Artifact can make it impossible to interpret an EKG.
Artifact/Somatic tremors-
Jittery pattern-caused by patient tremors or shaking wires.
Artifact/Baseline sway
Baseline swings up and down-related to breathing pattern or lotion on skin.
Artifact/60-cycle interference
Thickened pattern of waves and complexes-caused by too many electrical devices close by.
Artifact/Broken recording
Tracing varies between flat lines and wild scribbling-caused by frayed or broken wire.
Troubleshoot Artifact
Find the limb common to the leads showing artifact.
Example: Artifact in Leads II, III, and aVF- common limb is the left leg- Check wires and patches on that limb.
Real or Artifact?
-Check your patient- If rhythm looks lethal but patient is grinning at you with a blood pressure better than yours, that "lethal rhythm" is probably artifact.
-Check rhythm in another lead- preferably V1 or MCL1, as those leads pick up less artifact than