ECG Holter Monitoring and Ambulatory ECG 3

Question 1

What skin preparation technique best improves Holter electrode adhesion and signal quality?

Accepted Answer

Lightly abrading the skin with gauze or prep pad and allowing it to dry completely

Answer

Lightly abrading the skin removes oils, dead skin cells, and surface debris, which reduces impedance and improves electrode-to-skin contact, resulting in better signal quality and less artifact.

Question 2

What should a patient do if a Holter electrode falls off during monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Replace the electrode with a spare and note the time in the activity diary

Answer

The patient should replace the fallen electrode with a spare if provided and document the time in the diary, allowing the technician to account for any signal interruption or artifact during that period.

Question 3

Which common household device is LEAST likely to cause interference with a Holter monitor recording?

Accepted Answer

Standard table lamp

Answer

A standard table lamp produces minimal electromagnetic emissions, unlike TENS units, electric blankets, or microwave ovens, which generate sufficient electromagnetic fields to introduce artifact into the Holter recording.

Question 4

A patient's Holter recording shows frequent motion artifact during a specific 30-minute period. What is the BEST first step in analysis?

Accepted Answer

Correlate the time period with the patient's activity diary to identify the cause

Answer

Correlating artifact timing with the patient's activity diary allows the technician to identify the likely cause (e.g., exercise, using an electric shaver) and distinguish motion artifact from true arrhythmia.

Question 5

What are the recommended storage conditions for Holter recording digital media or flash cards?

Accepted Answer

At room temperature away from magnetic fields and extreme heat

Answer

Holter digital media should be stored at room temperature and protected from strong magnetic fields and temperature extremes to maintain data integrity until download and analysis.

ECG Certification Practice Test

ECG Certification Practice Test

ECG Holter Monitoring and Ambulatory ECG 3