NURS 3104 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Coronary Artery Disease, Precordium, Antiarrhythmic Agent
28 Sep 2017
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Document Summary
The ecg is a diagnostic tool used in assessing the cardiovascular system. It is a graphic recording of the electrical activity of the heart; an ecg can be recorded with 12, 15,or 18 leads, showing the activity from those different reference points. The ecg is obtained by placing disposable electrodes in standard positions on the skin of the chest wall and extremities. The heart"s electrical impulses are recorded as a tracing on special graph paper. The standard 12-lead ecg is the most commonly used tool to diagnose dysrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, enlarged heart chambers, myocardial ischemia or infarction, high or low calcium and potassium levels,and effects of some medications. A 15-lead ecg adds three additional chest leads across the right precordium and is a valuable tool for the early diagnosis of right ventricular and posterior left ventricular infarction. The18-lead ecg adds three posterior leads to the 15-lead ecg and is very useful for early detection of myocardial ischemia and injury.
