Great video. I just took an ekg class. I wish someone would address the correct/polite way to find intercostal spaces when there are breasts in the way or someone with excess adipose tissue and it is not easy to find. I would think we are more like to see those situations rather than 20 year olds with body fat % below 20%.
Hi Maya. Good point. Often times in clinical environments the electrodes are placed in the approximate locations described in this video. If you cannot feel the intercostals, a best guess based on prior experience is the all you can do. That is why it is good to start off practicing on lean individuals where you can get the experience of placing the electrodes precisely. In terms of politeness, people who do this every day often just apply the electrodes quickly to the bare chest. As in most clinical environments, personal privacy is typically not possible. The best you can do for privacy is to limit the people in the room, having a member of the same sex apply the electrodes (upon patient request and if a same sex staff member is available), or having a gown that is moved and replaced immediately after applying an electrode to minimize the time of exposure. In some settings the wearing of sports bras can be allowed as is seen in this video, but that is not always the case.
Great video. I just took an ekg class. I wish someone would address the correct/polite way to find intercostal spaces when there are breasts in the way or someone with excess adipose tissue and it is not easy to find. I would think we are more like to see those situations rather than 20 year olds with body fat % below 20%.
Hi Maya. Good point. Often times in clinical environments the electrodes are placed in the approximate locations described in this video. If you cannot feel the intercostals, a best guess based on prior experience is the all you can do. That is why it is good to start off practicing on lean individuals where you can get the experience of placing the electrodes precisely. In terms of politeness, people who do this every day often just apply the electrodes quickly to the bare chest. As in most clinical environments, personal privacy is typically not possible. The best you can do for privacy is to limit the people in the room, having a member of the same sex apply the electrodes (upon patient request and if a same sex staff member is available), or having a gown that is moved and replaced immediately after applying an electrode to minimize the time of exposure. In some settings the wearing of sports bras can be allowed as is seen in this video, but that is not always the case.
Arm electrodes are not correctly placed as they are too much on muscle tissue. They should be mid-clavicle just under the bone for exercise testing.