title: Phase shift in transmitted electrocardiograms: a cautionary tale of distorted signals.
abstract: We describe how a routine manufacturer's upgrade of equipment designed to record and transmit electrocardiograms inadvertently introduced the potential for artefact that simulated the ST segment elevation of myocardial infarction. Whilst this type of artefact from a phenomenon known as phase shift is likely to be rare, the possibility should be recognised. Any doubt about the veracity of ST segment elevation from this phenomenon can be tested by introducing test signals from a simple pulse generator.
authors.affiliation: Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S57AU, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tayler
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hitt
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jolley
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods*