ECG Artifact by a Spinal Cord Neurostimulator: A Case Report

Authors

  • Shyla Gupta Queen's University
  • Cathy Shaw Kingston Health Sciences Centre
  • Sohaib Haseeb Kingston Health Sciences Centre
  • Adrian Baranchuk Kingston Health Sciences Centre

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.614

Keywords:

Neurostimulator devices, ECG artifact, Atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Neurostimulator devices produce electrical oscillations that may prevent accurate diagnosis of an ECG.

The Case: We present the case of a 68-year-old man who came to the emergency department with chest pain and a spinal cord neuromodulator device in situ to treat his polymyalgia rheumatica. A 12-lead ECG was obtained to determine the cause of the chest pain, and atrial fibrillation was wrongly diagnosed.

Conclusion: This case reiterates the value of recognizing this uncommonly encountered ECG artifact to avoid unnecessary mistakes in interpretation of heart rhythms.

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Author Biographies

Shyla Gupta, Queen's University

Undergraduate Student

Cathy Shaw, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Registered cardiology tech; RCT.

Sohaib Haseeb, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

BSc, Medical student

Adrian Baranchuk, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

MD, FACC, FRCPC, FCCS

References

Rosen AV, Koppikar S, Shaw C, Baranchuk A. Common ECG Lead Placement Errors. Part I: Limb Lead Reversals. Int J Med Students. 2014 Jul-Oct;2(3):92-8.

Suarez-Fuster L, Alexander B, Renaud R, Shaw C, Baranchuk A. Electrocardiographic interference by a sacral neuromodulation device. J Electrocardiol. 2017;50(4):518-519.

Medtronic: MedicalExpo.” The Online Medical Device Exhibition, MedicalExpo, https://www.medicalexpo.com/prod/medtronic/product-70691-622641.html.

Spine, Mayfield Brain &. “Spinal Cord Stimulation, SCS, Spinal Cord Stimulators.” Mayfieldclinic.com, mayfieldclinic.com/pe-stim.htm.

Diez JC, Shaw C, Baranchuk A. Electrocardiogram interference by a neurostimulator. J Electrocardiol 2010;43:301.

Constantoyannis C, Heilbron B, Honey CR. Electrocardiogram artifacts caused by deep brain stimulation. Can J Neurol Sci. 2004;31(3):343-346.

Suarez-Fuster L, Oh C, Baranchuk A. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation electromagnetic interference in an implantable loop recorder. J Arrhythm. 2017;34(1):96-97.

Rosen AV, Koppikar S, Shaw C, Baranchuk A. Common ECG Lead Placement Errors. Part II: Precordial Misplacements. Int J Med Students. 2014 Jul-Oct;2(3):99-103.

Diez JC, Shaw C, Baranchuk A. Electrocardiogram interference by a neurostimulator. J Electrocardiol. 2010;43(4):301.

García-Niebla J. The Quest for Quality Electrocardiographic Recording. Int J Med Students. 2014 Jul-Oct;2(3):87-9.

Baranchuk A, Kang J, Shaw C, Witjes R. Electromagnetic interference produced by a hearing aid device on ECG recording. J Electrocardiol 2008;41(5):398-400.

Published

2020-08-18

How to Cite

Gupta, S., Shaw, C., Haseeb, S., & Baranchuk, A. (2020). ECG Artifact by a Spinal Cord Neurostimulator: A Case Report. International Journal of Medical Students, 8(2), 145–147. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.614

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Section

Case Report

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