What is computerized ECG?

What is computerized ECG?

Computerized interpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) began in the 1950s when conversion of its analog signal to digital form became available. Since then, automatic computer interpretations of the ECG have become routine, even at the point of care, by the addition of interpretive algorithms to portable ECG carts.

How accurate are electrocardiograms?

A review of 78 articles found that physician accuracy of ECG interpretation is just over half at 54% and improves slightly to 67% with some additional training. Accuracy did improve with more advanced training, with medical students having lower accuracy at 55.8% and cardiologists having the greatest accuracy at 74.9%.

How do you evaluate an ECG?

1. Step 1: Locate the P wave.
2. Step 2: Establish the relationship between P waves and the QRS complex.
3. Step 3: Analyze the QRS morphology.
4. Step 4: Search for other clues.
5. Step 5: Interpret the rhythm in the clinical setting.

What is ventricular repolarization?

Ventricular repolarization is a complex electrical phenomenon which represents a crucial stage in electrical cardiac activity. It is expressed on the surface electrocardiogram by the interval between the start of the QRS complex and the end of the T wave or U wave (QT).

What does T wave reflect?

Introduction. The T wave on the ECG (T-ECG) represents repolarization of the ventricular myocardium. Its morphology and duration are commonly used to diagnose pathology and assess risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

What are the common errors of an ECG?

The most frequent errors in computer ECG interpretation are related to arrhythmias, conduction disorders, and electronic pacemakers. Computer ECG diagnosis of life threatening conditions e.g. acute myocardial infarction or high degree AV blocks are frequently not accurate (40.7% and 75.0% errors, respectively).

What is 12SL interpretation in ECG?

The Marquette 12SL ECG Analysis program is a computer program for analyzing simultaneously acquired 12-lead ECGs. It makes precise measurements of recorded cardiac signals, then provides an interpretation of the ECG waveforms using classic and newly developed ECG interpretation criteria for both rhythm and morphology.

Can ECG report be wrong?

It’s relatively common for EKG results to give a false positive. One study measured the accuracy of an EKG for diagnosing a previous heart attack compared to a cardiac MRI. The researchers found that EKGs had: Poor sensitivity.

Can EKGs be wrong?

It turns out that EKGs frequently identify problems that don’t really exist, results known as “false positives.” Clinical studies have shown that EKGs actually indicate far more false positives than “false negatives” (where the test fails to identify a real problem).

How to interpret the ECG in its clinical context?

The ECG in its clinical context The ECG must always be interpreted systematically. Failure to perform a systematic interpretation of the ECG may be detrimental. The interpretation algorithm presented below is easy to follow and it can be carried out by anyone.

What does an electrocardiogram (ECG) show?

An electrocardiogram — abbreviated as EKG or ECG — is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. With each beat, an electrical impulse (or “wave”) travels through the heart. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart. A normal heartbeat on ECG will show the timing…

Why do doctors measure time intervals on an ECG?

First, by measuring time intervals on the ECG, a doctor can determine how long the electrical wave takes to pass through the heart. Finding out how long a wave takes to travel from one part of the heart to the next shows if the electrical activity is normal or slow, fast or irregular.

What is an inferior view on an ECG?

aVF: inferior view (calculated by analysing activity between RA+LA -> LL) The shape of the ECG waveform Each individual lead’s ECG recording is slightly different in shape. This is because each lead is recording the electrical activity of the heart from a different direction (a.k.a viewpoint).