title: [Artificial bradycardias due to tape-running problems of old long-term ECG records].
abstract: Artificial bradycardias due to tape-running alterations of old long-term ECG recorders were observed with increasing frequency in the last 2 years at our hospital. To document the extent of this problem, 115 consecutive 24-hour long-term ECG recordings of 10 still used tape recorders with an age of 12 +/- 4 years were examined. Analysis of the tapes with a new analysis system revealed artificial bradycardias with rates of 10 to 40/min in 22 of 115 long-term ECG recordings (19%). These artificial bradycardias were observed in 4 out of 10 examined tape recorders (40%). Three of 4 concerned recorders were 14 years old at the time of examination, and one recorder was only 5 years old. Artificial bradycardias were caused by extensive alterations of tape-running speed in all cases. Diagnostic proof of artificial bradycardias due to tape running alterations on long-term ECG are simultaneous with prolonged RR-intervals occurring increases in all ECG times including P-width. PQ-time, QRS-width and QT-duration with otherwise unchanged ECG morphology. To avoid prolonged hospital stays or therapeutic mistakes like unnecessary pacemaker implantation, especially older long-term ECG-tape recorders should be checked regularly and, if necessary, be replaced by new devices.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin-Abteilung Kardiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Menz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maisch
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D013637:Tape Recording / Q000295:instrumentation*
vernacular_title: Artifizielle Bradykardien durch Bandlaufprobleme alter Langzeit-EKG-Rekorder.