Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-11T08:21:52.346Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An introduction to cardiac monitoring and rhythm interpretation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2009

Christine Spiers  and
Emma Stinchcombe
Christine Spiers
Affiliation:
Kingston University
Emma Stinchcombe
Affiliation:
Kingston University
Get access

Abstract

This article is the first in a series which will explore the identification and management of cardiac arrhythmias within the peri-operative care setting. To improve patient safety, the number of patients who are monitored within the recovery room is rising, whilst cardiac monitoring remains a fundamental requirement for patient care during the anaesthetic phase. Therefore, the role of the peri-operative care nurse requires an ability to interpret cardiac arrhythmias and to subsequently instigate the appropriate management.

The purpose of this preliminary article is to establish the basic principles that underpin the identification and management of arrhythmias. Cardiac physiology is reviewed and then applied to the derivation of the waveforms of the normal ECG. The article continues with a summary of accurate electrode placement and some tips for troubleshooting in the presence of ‘artifact’. A systematic analysis tool, which can be easily applied to clinical practice, completes the article.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Anaesthetic & Recovery Nursing , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , February 2002 , pp. 8 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © British Association of Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bryson, W. (1997) Electrocardiographic monitoring Chapter 22 IN Thompson, PL (Ed) Coronary Care Manual Churchill Livingstone New YorkGoogle Scholar
Carrie, L.E.S.Simpson, P.J and Popat, M (2001) Carrie's understanding anaesthesia 4th Edition Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.Google Scholar
Goldberger, A.L. (1999) Clinical electrocardiography 6th Edition Mosby St. LouisGoogle Scholar
Ide, B. (1995) Bedside electrocardiographic assessment Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 9(4) 10–23CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jacobson, C. (1998) Protocols for practice: applying research at the bedside. Bedside cardiac monitoring Critical Care Nurse 18(3) 82–85CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McConnell, E. (2001) Applying cardiac monitor electrodes Nursing 31(8) 17Google Scholar
Moriarty, A. (1999) ECG interpretation: misplacement of limb leads British Journal of Cardiology 6 (1) 50–52Google Scholar
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (1994) Recommendations for the standard of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery London: Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.Google Scholar
Woodrow, P. (1998) An introduction to the reading of electrocardiograms British Journal of Nursing 7 (3) 135–142CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xiao, H.B. (1996) How to do electrocardiography Part three British Journal of Cardiology 3 (7) 217–219Google Scholar