Signal-Average Electrocardiogram

Overview

What is a Signal-Average Electrocardiogram?

An EKG is one of the simplest and fastest procedures used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes (small, plastic patches) are placed at certain locations on your chest, arms, and legs. When the electrodes are connected to the EKG machine by wire leads, the electrical activity of your heart is measured, interpreted, and printed out for the physician's information and further interpretation.

A signal-average electrocardiogram is a more detailed type of EKG, in which multiple EKG tracings are obtained over a period of approximately 20 minutes, in order to capture abnormal heartbeats which may occur only intermittently. A computer captures all the electrical signals from your heart and averages them to provide the physician more detail regarding how your heartes electrical conduction system is working.

Reasons for the Procedure

As previously mentioned, some reasons your physician may request an EKG may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• to determine the cause of chest pain
  
  
• to evaluate other signs and symptoms which may be heart-related, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting, etc.
  
  
• to help identify irregular heartbeats
  
  
• for further evaluation of arrhythmias noted on resting EKG

Risks of the Procedure

No known risks.

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