ECG ECG Artifacts and Troubleshooting 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which artifact appears as a regular, uniform oscillation at 60 Hz on the ECG baseline?
- Baseline wander
- AC interference artifact (Correct answer)
- Muscle tremor artifact
- Respiratory artifact
Correct answer: AC interference artifact
AC interference produces a regular 60 Hz oscillation (fine zigzag) on the ECG baseline, caused by nearby electrical equipment or poor grounding.
Question 2: What is the most common cause of baseline wander on an ECG tracing?
- AC power interference
- Respiratory movement and poor electrode contact (Correct answer)
- Atrial flutter
- Machine malfunction
Correct answer: Respiratory movement and poor electrode contact
Baseline wander is most commonly caused by patient breathing (chest movement) combined with poor electrode contact, causing slow undulation of the baseline.
Question 3: A patient with Parkinson's disease is likely to produce which type of ECG artifact?
- AC interference
- Baseline wander
- Somatic (muscle tremor) artifact (Correct answer)
- Electrode pop artifact
Correct answer: Somatic (muscle tremor) artifact
The rhythmic muscle tremors of Parkinson's disease produce high-frequency somatic artifact that can mimic atrial flutter or fibrillation.
Question 4: An 'electrode pop' artifact on an ECG is characterized by:
- Gradual baseline drift
- Sudden sharp deflection or signal loss in one lead (Correct answer)
- Uniform 60 Hz oscillation
- Wide QRS complexes
Correct answer: Sudden sharp deflection or signal loss in one lead
Electrode pop is caused by a momentary loss of electrode contact, producing a sudden sharp spike or abrupt signal disruption in one or more leads.
Question 5: How can a technician differentiate somatic artifact from a true cardiac arrhythmia?
- Artifacts are always in all leads simultaneously
- Artifacts do not follow P-QRS-T pattern and disappear when patient is still (Correct answer)
- Artifacts only occur in limb leads
- Artifacts always cause ST changes
Correct answer: Artifacts do not follow P-QRS-T pattern and disappear when patient is still
True cardiac arrhythmias maintain some organized P-QRS-T relationship across leads, while somatic artifact lacks this pattern and resolves when the patient relaxes or stops moving.
Question 6: Which corrective action best addresses baseline wander caused by electrode movement?
- Increase paper speed
- Re-prep skin and reattach electrodes with proper adhesion (Correct answer)
- Apply the 60 Hz filter
- Record only precordial leads
Correct answer: Re-prep skin and reattach electrodes with proper adhesion
Proper skin preparation and secure electrode attachment reduce movement-related baseline wander by improving electrode stability and skin contact.
ECG ECG Artifacts and Troubleshooting 1
Which artifact appears as a regular, uniform oscillation at 60 Hz on the ECG baseline?