Question

Which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the leads for a resting EKG tracing for a patient who is in an immobile fetal position?

a) As close to the heart as possible
b) On the patient's feet
c) On the patient's ears
d) On the patient's forehead

Answer 1

For an accurate resting EKG tracing, the electrodes should be placed as close as possible to the standard positions, which include six on the chest and four on the limbs, not on the patient's feet, ears, or forehead.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct placement of leads for a resting EKG (electrocardiogram), even when the patient is immobile in a fetal position, remains as close to the standard positions as possible. The 12-lead EKG uses 10 electrodes with six placed on the chest and four on the limbs. While patient positioning might require some adaptation, the electrodes should not be placed on areas like the patient's feet, ears, or forehead as these positions would not yield an accurate cardiac tracing.

Taken together, the 12 leads of an ECG provide a comprehensive analysis of heart function, revealing regions of damaged heart tissue and subtle changes over time. Even with advancements in technology allowing for portable monitoring, the placement of leads remains crucial for accurate diagnostics. Therefore, the best option given the circumstances would be to place the leads as close to the heart as possible to obtain a viable EKG tracing.