Which leads do you monitor your CABGs in?

Specialties MICU

Published

Our monitors are auto set to monitor leads II and V, but are easily changed. I'm looking for solid evidence to back this up or to suggest different (better?) leads. What are the best leads to monitor post-CABG patients and why? Thanks for your input.

Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

We use 5 lead ECG on our monitors. I usually monitor lead II on the screen of the and MCL as the secondary lead that prints when the monitor alarms or I print a strip.

I think II is the best viewed lead in 5 lead because this lead has the greatest amplitude and it allows the best views of arrhythmias and P and R waves. When the electrode is properly applied, lead II most closely follows the overall direction of the electrical movement of the heart.

I think MCL is close to what you get in lead V6 in a 12 lead. Sometimes I use V as the secondary. It's all about the amplitude, for me.

We use 5 lead ECG on our monitors. I usually monitor lead II on the screen of the and MCL as the secondary lead that prints when the monitor alarms or I print a strip.

I think II is the best viewed lead in 5 lead because this lead has the greatest amplitude and it allows the best views of arrhythmias and P and R waves. When the electrode is properly applied, lead II most closely follows the overall direction of the electrical movement of the heart.

I think MCL is close to what you get in lead V6 in a 12 lead. Sometimes I use V as the secondary. It's all about the amplitude, for me.

Ideally the leads being monitered should correspond to what artery was bypassed. Best practice at my facility dictates to know what was bypassed then moniter the appropriate leads. Most the time we moniter in lead 2 to see the inferior, then our 2nd lead is more specific

Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

We use II and V1

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