ECG RECORDING TECHNIQUES AND IMPORTANCE IN CLINICAL MEDICAL PRACTICE

Elektrokardiografija ima veliku važnost u dijagnosticiranju srčanih aritmija, akutnog infarkta miokarda te brojnih drugih bolesti srca. To je metoda kojom se bilježi električna aktivnost srca putem elektroda postavljenih na kožu pacijenta. Snimanjem električne aktivnosti srca nastaje tehnički zapis, koji se naziva elektrokardiogram. U provodnom sustavu srca važno je istaknuti četiri strukture, a to su sinusatrijski čvor, atrioventrikularni čvor, Hisov snop te Purkinjeova vlakna. Ako jedna od struktura funkcionalno zakaže, nastaju poremećaji srčanog ritma. EKG se može provesti na više načina. Najčešći način je 12-kanalna elektrokardiografija, a preostale metode su kontinuirana elektrokardiografija (Holter), telemetrija te trajno praćenje EKG-a transtelefonskim putem ili putem kružnih snimača. Na EKG zapisu važno je poznavati njegove dijelove (valove, zupce, intervale, segmente) kako bi se mogle uočiti abnormalnosti. Dijelovi koje je korisno poznavati su P-val, QRS kompleks, T-val, ST-segment, U-val, QT-interval te PQ-interval. Važnost poznavanja EKG-a za fizioterapeuta očituje se najčešće kod provođenja testa opterećenja gdje fizioterapeut ima veliku ulogu te odgovornost prepoznavanja abnormalnog nalaza EKG-a.Electrocardiography (ECG) has great importance in the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction and many other heart diseases. This is a method of recording electrical activity of the heart through electrodes placed on the patient's skin. By capturing the electrical activity of the heart, a technical record called an electrocardiogram is produced. In the conduction system of the heart it is important to emphasize four structures – sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, bundle of His and Purkinje's fibers. If function of one structure fails, heart rate disorders occur. There are several ways to performe ECG. The most commonly used method is 12-leads electrocardiography. The remaining methods are continuous electrocardiography (Holter), telemetry and permanent ECG monitoring by transtelephone or loop recoders. On the ECG record it is important to know its parts (waves, intervals, segments) which helps in spotting ECG abnormalities. Parts that are useful to know are P wave, QRS complex, T wave, ST segment, U wave, QT interval and PQ interval. The importance of knowing the ECG for a physiotherapist is most commonly see in performing ergometry. During ergometry, physiotherapist plays a major role and is responsible for recognizing an abnormal ECG finding