Key result
The recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz for neonatal ECGs did not meet the goal of amplitude errors in 95% of cases compared to the full bandwidth of 0.05–540Hz.
Why the study?
Neonatal ECGs have higher frequency content than adult ECGs, but the effect of using different filter bandwidths and the implications for routine ECG recording remained to be determined.
Does the guideline-recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz accurately preserve peak to peak QRS amplitudes compared to full bandwidth in neonatal ECGs?
Observational (n=48)
No
Does the guideline-recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz accurately preserve peak to peak QRS amplitudes compared to full bandwidth in neonatal ECGs?
The current guideline-recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz for pediatric ECGs may be insufficient to prevent amplitude errors in neonatal ECGs, though the clinical impact remains unclear.
250 Hz cutoff may cause QRS amplitude errors in neonatal ECGs; leaves open clinical significance and need for revised standards.
ECGs from neonates are known to have a higher frequency content than adult ECGs.The aim of the study was to determine the effect of using different filter bandwidths on neonatal ECGs initially sampled at a rate of 8000 samples per second (which permits the use of a signal bandwidth much higher than 150 Hz) and to consider the implications for routine ECG recording.48 ECGs were recorded from newly born term infants (0-48 hours postnatal) at Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow on a Burdick 8500 electrocardiograph. The frequency response of the machine was carefully checked. Peak to peak QRS amplitudes of average beats of the 10 second recordings were measured in all 8 independent leads with the results obtained at the full bandwidth of the ECG machine regarded as the reference.The full bandwidth of the 8500 was verified as 0.05 – 540Hz. It was found that the recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz in the current guideline does not meet the goal of amplitude errors 95% of the cases in this data set. The clinical significance of high frequency components in pediatric ECGs is currently unclear.
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Luo et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Neonatal ECGs (n=48). Upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz vs. Full bandwidth (0.05 - 540Hz) was evaluated on Amplitude errors in peak to peak QRS amplitudes. The recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz for neonatal ECGs did not meet the goal of amplitude errors in 95% of cases compared to the full bandwidth of 0.05–540Hz.
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