[Sweet_Krishna]

I got my ECG done recently. But I feel that my ECG was not done properly. My mind has made me believe that electrode to my right arm was not attached properly. What happens to the ECG report if the right arm electrode is not attached to the body?

[sideblinded]

Sweet_Krishna

I have done EKG's but I cannot possibly tell you what happened during your EKG. There are differing ways to do EKG's and there is different equipment. There are monitor EKG's, 12 lead, 6 lead. Placement of electrodes may differ on each person. Sometimes only some artifact is present if an electrode is not placed properly. The right leg electrode is for grounding only. Doctors are trained to know if there is an abnormality in an EKG where it is worth redoing the EKG. Can reversal of a limb electrode cause some small changes on an EKG? Yes, but the reading doctor can discern small changes.

I really had this happen to me as a patient one time. I was not even aware until the doctor popped in and checked my EKG electrode placement. The medical assistant placed the 6 electrodes that go on the chest on the wrong side of my chest and the doctor said "I was just checking to see if your heart was on the wrong side". It was only then that I noticed that they were in fact on the wrong side. So the doctor picked that up right away. I would ask that it be redone if you are that worried about it but the doctors are used to seeing electrodes placed differently.

Hope this helps.

I find that it helps to have a sense of humor about health despite the seriousness. Something funny happened to me once at a doctors office. He had one of his assistants give me an ekg. When she saw the lines she got an odd expression on her face. She checked the electrodes and started over. Same thing. She got another assistant to come and look at the results and the electrode placement. Together they redid everything with the same results. Then the doctor came in expecting to find what the assistants did wrong. They hadn't made any mistakes but he placed the electrodes and checked the results himself. Same results He told me that he wasn't a cardiologist but something seemed very odd. He wanted to refer me to a cardiology clinic but I couldn't afford it. He did call a friend of his, a cardiologist, and they thought they had an idea on what the problem(s) was/were. I never followed up on that. That happened well over 20 years ago and my heart is still beating strongly
I don't mean to invalidate your feelings. I understand your fears and anxiety are very real.

[Sweet_Krishna]

Originally Posted by sideblinded

Sweet_Krishna

I have done EKG's but I cannot possibly tell you what happened during your EKG. There are differing ways to do EKG's and there is different equipment. There are monitor EKG's, 12 lead, 6 lead. Placement of electrodes may differ on each person. Sometimes only some artifact is present if an electrode is not placed properly. The right leg electrode is for grounding only. Doctors are trained to know if there is an abnormality in an EKG where it is worth redoing the EKG. Can reversal of a limb electrode cause some small changes on an EKG? Yes, but the reading doctor can discern small changes.

I really had this happen to me as a patient one time. I was not even aware until the doctor popped in and checked my EKG electrode placement. The medical assistant placed the 6 electrodes that go on the chest on the wrong side of my chest and the doctor said "I was just checking to see if your heart was on the wrong side". It was only then that I noticed that they were in fact on the wrong side. So the doctor picked that up right away. I would ask that it be redone if you are that worried about it but the doctors are used to seeing electrodes placed differently.

Hope this helps.

My question is what would ECG report look like if right arm electrode is not clapsed to the patient?

[Jolisse]

The test would not look normal, it would show artifact. an indication that electrodes are not connected properly.