Patient Monitor User Manual
Monitoring ECG
Electrode Placement for 12-lead
8.8.4 Recommended ECG Lead Placement for Surgical Patients
WARNING
When using Electrosurgery (ES) equipment, leads should be placed in a position in equal
distance from Electrosurgery electrotome and the ES grounding plate to avoid cautery.
Electrosurgery equipment wire and ECG cable must not be tangled up.
Monitoring ECG leads are mainly used for monitoring the patient's vital signs. When using the
patient monitor with other electrosurgery equipment, it is advised to use the counteracting
defibrillation ECG lead.
The placement of the ECG leads will depend on the type of surgery that is being performed. For
example, in an open chest surgery the electrodes may be placed laterally on the chest or on the
back. In the operating room, artifacts may affect the ECG waveform due to the use of ES
(Electrosurgery) equipment. To help reduce this you can place the electrodes on the right and left
shoulders, the right and left sides near the abdomen, and the chest lead on the left side at
mid-chest. Avoid placing the electrodes on the upper arms. Otherwise the ECG waveform will be
too small.
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