EKG AcquisitionQuestion 45 of 100
An anxious, cold patient produces a tracing with irregular jagged spikes that obscure the small waveforms. What artifact is this and what is the best first correction?
a.Wandering baseline; ask the patient to hold his breath
b.AC interference; unplug nearby equipment
c.Somatic tremor; warm and reposition the patient so the limbs are supported and relaxed
d.Loose electrode; reapply the chest leads
Explanation
Somatic tremor is muscle-movement artifact from shivering, tension, or involuntary motion, and it is corrected by warming the patient, supporting the arms and legs on the bed, and coaching him to relax. Wandering baseline drifts up and down slowly with respiration. AC interference is a uniform 60-cycle band, and a loose electrode affects only the lead it belongs to.
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