Obtaining an ECG

1
Obtaining an ECG

• Recording the ECG (see Procedure 48-1)
• Standardization, sensitivity, and speed
• Mounting an ECG tracing

2
Artifacts

• The medical assistant must recognize and correct
  the most common types of artifacts on the ECG
  recording.
• Wandering baseline

3
Artifacts

• Somatic tremor

4
Artifacts

• Sixty-cycle interference

5
Artifacts

• Interrupted baseline

6
Sensitivity Standards

• Most machines have 3 sensitivity standards that
  can be selected

7
Sensitivity Standards (contd)
8
Typical ECG Rhythm Abnormalities

• Sinus arrhythmias
• Sinus bradycardia
• Sinus tachycardia

9
Typical ECG Rhythm Abnormalities

• Atrial arrhythmias
• Premature atrial contraction (PAC)
• Atrial flutter
• Ventricular arrhythmias
• Premature ventricular contraction
• Ventricular fibrillation

10
Typical ECG Rhythm Abnormalities
11
Biochemical Arrhythmias

• Digitalis
• Potassium

12
Stress Test

• Conducted to observe and record the patients
  cardiovascular response to measured exercise
  challenges.

13
Holter Monitor

• A portable system for recording the cardiac
  activity of a patient over a 24-hour period or
  longer.
• The patient must keep a journal of all stressful
  events and activities during the entire time the
  monitor is worn.
• A medical assistant is often responsible for
  instructing the patient in applying and removing
  the monitor.

14
Patient Education

• Heart disease and stroke account for more than
  one third of all deaths.
• Talk to the patient about factors that could be
  modified, and give him or her encouragement for
  any attempt at complying with these suggestions.
• Include visual aids, posters, brochures.