Question

An EKG technician is performing a standard 12-lead EKG for a patient who has a below the knee amputation of the left leg. The technician should modify and document the lead placement for this patient in which of the following ways?

a) Place the limb leads on the right leg only.
b) Place the limb leads on the upper left thigh.
c) Place the limb leads on the right lower abdomen.
d) Place the limb leads on the upper right thigh.

Answer 1

For a patient with a below-knee amputation of the left leg, the EKG technician should place the limb leads on the upper left thigh and document this modification.

Step-by-step explanation:

An EKG technician should modify the placement of the limb leads for a patient with a below-knee amputation of the left leg by positioning the leads on the upper left thigh. This is because the standard 12-lead EKG involves placement of ten electrodes at specific locations, including four on the limbs (one on each limb). Since the standard placement on the left lower limb is not possible, the technician can place the electrode on the remaining proximal portion of the limb, which is the upper left thigh. It is also critical to document the modification in lead placement, as it can affect the ECG interpretation. This modified approach helps to obtain a more representative electrical recording of the heart, even with the patient's amputation.