CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Resting ECG Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CCT is preparing a patient for a resting 12-lead ECG. The patient has a hairy chest. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the technician to take?
- Apply extra gel to the electrodes to ensure contact.
- Place the electrodes on the patient's back instead.
- Shave the hair at the specific electrode placement sites with patient consent. (Correct answer)
- Proceed with the ECG without any special preparation.
Correct answer: Shave the hair at the specific electrode placement sites with patient consent.
To ensure good electrode-to-skin contact for a high-quality ECG tracing, any hair at the site of electrode placement should be removed. Shaving is the standard procedure, but it requires the patient's permission before proceeding.
Question 2: While performing a resting ECG, the technician notices a thick, uniform, and fuzzy baseline, characteristic of 60-cycle interference. What is the most likely cause of this artifact?
- The patient is cold and shivering.
- An electrode has become loose or detached.
- The patient is talking or moving.
- There is electrical interference from nearby equipment. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: There is electrical interference from nearby equipment.
A 60-cycle (or AC) interference artifact presents as a thick, consistent, fuzzy baseline. It is caused by electromagnetic interference from nearby electrical devices, such as power cords, patient beds, or mobile phones.
Question 3: A patient is in the supine position for a resting ECG. Where should the V4 electrode be placed?
- In the 4th intercostal space, at the right sternal margin.
- Midway between the V2 and V4 electrodes.
- In the 5th intercostal space, at the mid-clavicular line. (Correct answer)
- In the 5th intercostal space, at the mid-axillary line.
Correct answer: In the 5th intercostal space, at the mid-clavicular line.
Correct placement of the precordial leads is crucial for an accurate ECG. The V4 electrode is specifically placed in the 5th intercostal space in the middle of the clavicle (mid-clavicular line).
Question 4: A technician observes a 'wandering baseline' on the ECG tracing, where the isoelectric line slowly moves up and down. Which of the following is a common cause of this artifact?
- Incorrect paper speed.
- Patient's respiratory movements. (Correct answer)
- AC electrical interference.
- Expired electrode gel.
Correct answer: Patient's respiratory movements.
A wandering baseline is often caused by patient movement, including the rise and fall of the chest during normal breathing. It can also be caused by poor electrode contact or loose electrodes.
Question 5: To obtain a standard 12-lead ECG, how many electrodes are placed on the patient?
- 12
- 6
- 15
- 10 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 10
A standard 12-lead ECG provides 12 different views of the heart's electrical activity, but it is recorded using only 10 electrodes: four limb electrodes (one on each arm and leg) and six precordial (chest) electrodes.
Question 6: A patient scheduled for a resting ECG reports having applied body lotion this morning. What is the best course of action for the CCT?
- Wipe the electrode sites with a dry gauze pad before application.
- Clean the electrode sites with an alcohol wipe to remove the lotion. (Correct answer)
- Apply the electrodes directly over the lotion.
- Reschedule the ECG for another day.
Correct answer: Clean the electrode sites with an alcohol wipe to remove the lotion.
Oils, lotions, and sweat on the skin can interfere with electrode adhesion and conductivity, leading to a poor-quality tracing. The proper procedure is to clean the skin at the electrode sites with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry completely before applying the electrodes.
CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Resting ECG Procedures Questions and Answers 1
A CCT is preparing a patient for a resting 12-lead ECG.
The patient has a hairy chest.
Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the technician to take?