Chapter 87 Electrocardiography
Electrocardiography is a noninvasive procedure that measures the electrical activity of the heart and records it on graph paper. Electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs) can be used diagnostically to demonstrate hypertrophy or enlargement of the heart chambers, electrolyte imbalances, myocardial infarction, and myocardial ischemia, as well as the effects of various drugs. The ECG is used to detect cardiac arrhythmias and conduction defects, as well as cardiac rhythms that are diagnostic of a specific cardiac disorder or congenital heart defect.
