39. ECG PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

39. ECG

A	Uses of an ECG An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a tracing, or drawing, produced by an electrocardiograph – a device which records electrical activity in the heart. An ECG can be used for: A deciding if the heart is performing normally or suffering from abnormalities, for example cardiac arrhythmia – extra or skipped heartbeats. B indicating damage to heart muscle, such as heart attacks, or ischaemia of heart muscle (angina) C detecting conduction abnormalities; heart blocks and bundle branch blocks (BBB) D screening for ischaemic heart disease during an exercise tolerance test, often carried out on an exercise bike or treadmill. E providing information on the physical condition of the heart, for example in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) F detecting electrolyte disturbances, for example low plasma potassium levels.
B	ECG procedure Here is an extract from a medical textbook. 1 The patient should lie down and relax. 2 Calibrate the ECG machine – a standard signal of 1mV should move the stylus two large squares (1cm) vertically. 3 Attach the limb leads: left arm (LA), right arm (RA), left leg (LL) and right leg (RL) 4 Record the six standard leads: I, II, III, augmented voltage right arm (AVR), augmented voltage left arm (AVL), and augmented voltage foot (AVF) – three or four complexes (see C below) for each. 5 Apply the electrode to the six chest positions in turn, recording three to four complexes of each. If the rhythm does not appear to be sinus (normal rhythm), a rhythm strip of 6-10 complexes in a single lead should be recorded.
C	A normal ECG
D

EXERCISES

39.1	Find words and phrases in A and B above with the following meanings. 1 the marks produced by an ECG stylus 2 a test which determines how well a patient copes with physical exercise 3 a missed heart beat
39.2	Label the limb leads 9a-d) on the first diagram, and write a title (e) for the second diagram. Look at B above to help you.
39.3	Complete the text using words from the box. Look at C above to help you. complexes leads wave interval rate This very abnormal ECG shows a (1) ____________ of approximately 33/min, a single long pause of approximately 4 seconds between ventricular complexes with atrial activity; widened QRS (2) ____________ in keeping with (R)BBB. Deep T (3) ____________ inversion in II, III, AVF and some chest (4) ____________ (V4-V6). Deep QRS complexes in V2 and V5 in keeping with LVH. One atrial ectopic. QT (5) ____________ is normal.

Answer key