Spurious atrial tachycardia in a pilot. Prediction of the artifactual appearances in all twelve leads, when a single limb lead is the source of the artifact.
A routine screening electrocardiogram on a amateur pilot revealed what was initially thought to be an episode of atrial tachycardia. Minutes later, the record was within normal limits. The initial reading contained an artifact. A clear explanation of the distribution (within the 12 leads) of the artifact is given. The case illustrates that if an artifact is produced at any 1 of the 3 limb lead connections, it is possible to predict the size of the artifact in all 12 simultaneously recorded leads.
Rowlands
Derek J
DJ
Honorary Consultant Cardiologist, Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester, UK. djr@djr12ecg.demon.co.uk
Moore
Philip R
PR
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001359:Aviation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013612:Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis*