Key result
Repositioning the left limb lead away from a dialysis fistula resolves pulse-tapping ECG artifacts.
Why the study?
Electrocardiographic artifacts are common and may often interfere with interpretation.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Inspection of the electrocardiogram and lead placement is crucial when encountering unexpected findings to rule out artifacts.
Clinicians should inspect lead placement to exclude artifacts in dialysis patients with anomalous ECGs; this case leaves open broader prevalence.
Electrocardiographic artifacts are common and may often interfere with interpretation. We describe a case of bizarre appearing T waves. The left arm electrode was placed near a pulsatile fistula, which created an artery pulse tapping artifact. When encountering unexpected electrocardiographic findings, inspection of the electrocardiogram and lead placement may identify the cause. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)
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Bracey et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Arterial pulse tapping artifact (n=1). Electrocardiogram lead repositioning was evaluated on Resolution of electrocardiographic artifact. Repositioning the left limb lead away from the patient's dialysis fistula resolved the bizarre T waves and ST-segment elevation caused by arterial pulse tapping artifact.
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