Key result
Piezoelectric signals from ultrasound probes cause ECG artifacts mimicking VT.
Why the study?
Piezoelectric signals generated by ultrasonography probes can produce ECG artifacts mimicking ventricular tachycardia, creating clinical dilemmas in perioperative settings.
Case Report
Clinicians should be aware that ultrasound probes can generate piezoelectric signals that mimic ventricular tachycardia on ECG to avoid false alarms and unnecessary treatments.
Supports vigilance for ultrasound-related ECG artifacts during procedures; hypothesis-generating and requires confirmation in larger cohorts.
Electrocardiographic (ECG) artifacts may arise due to interference, faulty earthing, and current leakages in biomedical equipment which might create clinical dilemmas in the perioperative settings. Piezoelectric signals generated by ultrasonography probe are another uncommon source which might be sensed by the ECG electrodes and produce tracings similar to pathological arrhythmias triggering false alarms and avoidable therapies. Anesthesiologists should be familiar with these uncommon sources which might produce these artifacts and they should be identified swiftly.
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Haldar et al. (2017) conducted a case report in ECG artifacts mimicking ventricular tachycardia. Ultrasound probe was evaluated. Piezoelectric signals generated by ultrasonography probes can be sensed by ECG electrodes, producing artifacts that mimic pathological arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia.
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