Category
Diagnostic
Typical Use
Record cardiac electrical activity.
Description
A device that records the heart’s electrical activity through surface electrodes placed on the chest and limbs, producing tracings that show rhythm, conduction intervals, and evidence of ischemia or infarction. ECGs are essential in emergency evaluation of chest pain, syncope, palpitations, and in routine cardiac assessment, providing immediate diagnostic information about arrhythmias, conduction blocks, and myocardial injury. Proper electrode placement, lead selection, and artifact recognition are critical for accurate interpretation; serial ECGs and correlation with clinical findings and biomarkers improve diagnostic sensitivity. ECG machines range from portable single lead monitors to multi lead diagnostic systems integrated with hospital information systems.