Recording an ECG
This page will discuss general information on how to perform and record an ECG
Click the Title to expand and collapse each section
Paper Speed & Standardisation
- Small boxes on ECG paper are 1mm x 1mm
- Recordings are usually made at 25mm/sec
- Amplitude of ECG deflection is measured vertically
- Duration of the ECG is measured horizontally
- A standard deflection should be at the beginning or end of the ECG (a half rectangle)
Descriptive image here
Artefacts
Artefacts can cause missenterpretations in ECG readings.
3 common causes of artefacts
- Mains interference
- Patient movement
- wandering baseline
Mains interference
Causes fuzzy trace, lines are too thick or thin
Reasons: patient is in contact with metal, ecg lead in contact with metal (eg watch), ECG leads are tangled
Patient movement
Causes artefact
Reasons: nurse making patient uncomfortable
wandering baseline
Causes artefact
Reasons: poor electrode contact (eg hair or sweat)
Lead Placement
ECG electrodes must be placed in the correct positions on the body.
Patient should be positioned: supine with 2x pillows under head
Limb leads are labelled: R (Right), L (Left), F (Foot), N (Neutral)
Chest electrodes [names]: positions
- V1: patient's fourth intercostal space adjacent to right sternal notch
- V2: patient's fourth intercostal space adjacent to left sternal notch
- V3: Midway between V2 and V4
- V4: patient's fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
- V5: inline with V4 but on anteriror axillary line
- V6: inline with V4 but on midaxillary line
