cardiac monitor disconnected?

[kloget]

does the cardiac monitor sound different when a lead is disconnected offa chest patch from the way it sounds when it is a real flatline (will the monitor show flatline if just one is disconnected?) What is done after reconnecting the thing or will the monitor just start beeping again?

[NYCRN16]

The beep sounds the same on the moniters we use, but if a lead is disconnected it will show a question mark where the heart rate is, if its a true asystole its "supposed" to say 0, but I have also seen it give a question mark. Be careful however, because if the patient goes into V-Tach or V-fib, it can still sometimes pick up a "rate", and if you just look fast at the rate and dont recognize the rhythm, your patient is in trouble. Always remember, treat the patient not the moniter. If you see the moniter says asystole, and the patient is A+O x 3, than you should check the leads before you go grab the crash cart. However, there could be patients who are in V-tach that are A+O, and in that case, I would assess the patient first, than check the moniter leads. These leads are very sensitive and when someone talks, moves, they are thrown off. Hope this helps!