EKG and ECG

[greeneyesmon]

if during an EKG one of the leads fall off and the tech just puts it back on can this in any way alter the results? also during my Echo i was extremely nervouse i knew my pulse had to be elevated can this alter those results? any input would be appreciated....

[greeneyesmon]

yes i got my results of the echo but my PCP just said its a mild leak, and mild reguritration?? lots of people have i t and dont even knowbut now i do know so im still  not sure what that means...she said my heart is fine... but i still feel like i should know which valve is leaking and i thought that was the same as MVP but she says no.....maybe i should go to my family cardiologist and get his opinion....i hope your little one is feeling well and illl keep him in my prayers and your family to...thank you!!

[kenkeith]

Good question:

The leads are transducers (change electrical impulses to another form) that monitors conduction of electrical impulses and output the representation (tracings) on graph.  Usually there are 12 leads that provide different cross-section angles of the heart, and if the angle is viewing the impulse going with the impulse the signal with be positive, if the corss-section lead is going against the impulse direction the tracing will be negative....if the lead is dropped there will be no reading (zero, baseline) of electrical impulses from  that specific angle. Replacing the electrode, and with the next heartbeat the electrical signal will be monitored.  It has nothing to do with blood flow!

If your heartrate is above 100 bpm, the EKG will be recorded as abnormal and a computerized analysis will classify the condition as tachycardia.  And, yes, a fast heart rate can effect the QT segment signal, but the computerized software will modify that signal to QTc (that is QT modified by the heart rate).  The EKG will report both the QT and QTc signal and for analysis by an EP the QTc is usually the reference.

Generally, an EKG requires further testing, symptoms and clinical evidence that will support an abnormal report.  If I remember correctly, the sensitivity for false positives are about 20%.  As an example, if your EKG is abnormal due to a fast heart rate, the doctor will consider other evidence before treating for a tachycardiac condition (arrhythmia).

[momtofourboys]

as far as I know if a lead falls off during an EKG then it is noted, and it depends on which lead it is.
I am not sure about the rapid Hr during the echo due to being nervous, I think that maybe normal. I have not seen on my son's echo reports any documentation on how fast his heart rate really is all that I have seen is the strucutre of the heart and the functioning of it and the way the blood flows.
have you gotten any reults yet?
good luck
michelle