CCT Artifact Recognition and Troubleshooting 2

Question 1

Dried or insufficient electrode gel is most likely to cause:

Accepted Answer

Increased skin-electrode impedance and poor signal quality

Answer

60 Hz AC artifact from capacitive coupling

Answer

Somatic tremor artifact in all leads

Answer

Complete loss of precordial signals

Question 2

Reversal of the left arm (LA) and right arm (RA) electrodes would most likely produce:

Accepted Answer

Inverted P wave and negative QRS in lead I with swapped leads II and III

Answer

A flat line in all limb leads

Answer

Inverted QRS complexes in all precordial leads

Answer

Widened QRS complexes in leads II and III only

Question 3

Intermittent baseline wander that correlates with the respiratory cycle is best corrected by:

Accepted Answer

Checking and improving electrode-skin contact and adhesion

Answer

Replacing the ECG machine

Answer

Using a higher filter setting on the machine

Answer

Asking the patient to breathe faster

Question 4

A patient with Parkinson's disease undergoing an ECG is most likely to exhibit which type of artifact?

Accepted Answer

Somatic tremor artifact due to involuntary muscle movement

Answer

60 Hz AC artifact due to medication infusion pumps

Answer

Wandering baseline due to diaphoresis

Answer

Motion artifact from voluntary repetitive movements

Question 5

Which of the following BEST describes the appearance of somatic tremor artifact on an ECG?

Accepted Answer

Irregular, variable oscillations that can obscure the baseline and waveforms

Answer

Regular, fine oscillations at exactly 60 Hz superimposed on the baseline

Answer

A flat isoelectric line in one or more leads

Answer

Slow, rhythmic baseline drift correlating with respiration

Question 6

Which skin preparation technique is MOST effective in reducing ECG artifact?

Accepted Answer

Lightly abrading the skin and wiping with alcohol to remove oils and dead cells

Answer

Applying extra electrode gel without cleaning the skin

Answer

Using warming blankets before electrode placement only

Answer

Increasing electrode pressure by taping more firmly

Question 7

To reduce somatic tremor artifact in an anxious or cold patient, the technician should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Reassure the patient, ensure warmth, and allow time to relax before recording

Answer

Apply additional electrodes in parallel to average the signal

Answer

Immediately activate the artifact filter on the ECG machine

Answer

Increase the recording speed to 50 mm/sec