Artifact Recognition and Troubleshooting Flashcards
7 cards from real CCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Artifact Recognition and Troubleshooting flashcards as text
Which ECG leads most commonly show baseline wander due to respiratory movement?
Answer: Inferior limb leads (II, III, aVF)
The inferior limb leads (II, III, aVF) are most commonly affected by respiratory baseline wander as the limb electrodes move with breathing and the thorax expands.
Artifact that closely mimics atrial fibrillation on an ECG is most commonly caused by:
Answer: Patient shivering or fine muscle tremor (somatic tremor)
Somatic tremor, particularly shivering, produces rapid irregular oscillations that can closely resemble the fibrillatory baseline of atrial fibrillation.
When a patient cannot remain still during an ECG due to uncontrollable tremors, the technician should:
Answer: Document the artifact, note the clinical condition, and record the best quality tracing possible
The technician should document the artifact type and clinical reason (e.g., Parkinson's, shivering) and provide the best available tracing for physician interpretation.
If the right leg (RL/N) electrode becomes detached during recording, what effect would most likely be observed?
Answer: Significant artifact or loss of signal in all limb leads due to broken ground reference
The right leg electrode serves as the ground/neutral reference for the Wilson central terminal; its detachment causes significant artifact across all limb leads.
A technician notices the QRS complex is predominantly positive in lead aVR on a routine ECG. This finding most likely indicates:
Answer: Right arm and left arm lead reversal artifact
A predominantly positive QRS in aVR, which is always normally negative, is a classic indicator of right arm/left arm lead reversal.
Which ECG machine filter setting is designed specifically to reduce low-frequency baseline wander?
Answer: High-pass filter (e.g., 0.5 Hz cutoff)
A high-pass filter blocks signals below its cutoff frequency (such as 0.5 Hz), eliminating low-frequency baseline wander while allowing cardiac signals to pass.
When is it appropriate to activate the ECG machine's built-in artifact filters?
Answer: Only when proper technique cannot eliminate the artifact, and filter use must be documented
Filters should only be used as a last resort when technique cannot resolve artifact, and their use must be documented because filters can alter waveform morphology and potentially mask diagnostic findings.