title: Electrocardiographic changes in coronary care unit patients during defecation.
abstract: Fifty-one consecutive patients admitted to a coronary care unit were monitored for ECG changes while having a total of 63 bowel movements (BM's). Twenty-three patients had proven myocardial infarction while 28 had no acute cardiac disease. ECG changes in patients using either commode or bedpan facilities were compared during defecation. Patients using the commode were found to have a greater increase in heart rate and other nonspecific ECG abnormalities compared to those using the bedpan.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003672:Defecation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014038:Toilet Facilities