| The frequency of electrocardiographic errors due to electrode cable switches: a before and after study. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20591441 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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INTRODUCTION: Electrocardiographic (ECG) errors due to electrode cable reversal confuse physicians and provoke unnecessary diagnostic tests. They occur in approximately 4% of ECGs performed in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to investigate whether this frequency could be reduced by an appropriate intervention. METHODS: All ECGs from consecutive patients were collected at ICU discharge and analyzed by the investigators. Before collecting a second set of ECGs, we educated our ICU staff and performed technical improvements on the electrocardiographs (system approach). Electrocardiographic errors were identified applying previously published morphologic criteria. RESULTS: We collected and analyzed 1123 ECGs from 416 patients. Nine hundred ten ECGs (81%) were recorded in the ICU; and the frequencies of electrode cable misplacements before and after the intervention were 4.8% and 1.2%, respectively (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Using a system approach, we were able to significantly reduce the frequency of ECG errors due to electrode cable switches by 75%. |
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Authors:
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Thomas Thaler; Volker Tempelmann; Marco Maggiorini; Alain Rudiger |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article Date: 2010-06-29 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of electrocardiology Volume: 43 ISSN: 1532-8430 ISO Abbreviation: J Electrocardiol Publication Date: 2010 Nov-Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-11-02 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0153605 Medline TA: J Electrocardiol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 676-81 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Department of Cardiology, Canton Hospital Sankt Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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