Understanding the Arrhythmia Display 6 ECG, Arrhythmia, and ST Monitoring
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Intermittent Bundle Branch Block

Bundle branch and the other fascicular blocks create a challenge for the arrhythmia algorithm. If the
QRS during the block changes considerably from the learned normal, the blocked beat may be
incorrectly classified as ventricular, causing false PVC alarms. You should always select a lead where the
bundle branch block beats have an R-wave that is as narrow as possible to minimize incorrect calls.
Ventricular beats should look different from these ‘normal beats’. Instead of trying to select two leads
with a narrow R-wave, it may be easier to just select one lead and use single lead arrhythmia
monitoring. Extra vigilance is required by the clinician for this type of patient.
Understanding the Arrhythmia Display
Your monitor screen may look slightly different from the illustration.

Viewing Arrhythmia Waves

♦To review arrhythmia beat labels, in the Setup Arrh ythmia menu, select Annotat e Arrhy.
The wave showing the primary ECG lead will be delayed by six seconds and shown on a grey
background. Beat labels will be annotated above the ECG wave and Delayed will be written
beside it.
♦To return to the normal ECG primary lead display, select Annotate Arrhy again.

Arrhythmia Beat Labels

Arrhythmia beat labels tell you how the monitor is classifying beats.
N = Normal
V = Ventricular Ectopic
S = Supra-ventricular Premature
P = Paced
' = Pacer spike
L = Learning patient's ECG
A = Artifact (noisy episode)
? = Insufficient information to classify beats
I = Inoperative condition (e.g., LEADS OFF)
M = Pause or missed beat
PP P
Delayed 1mV
II
M
PVC Numeric HR Numeric
Delayed arrhythmia wave
Beat label Rhythm status message
Pair PVCs
Ectopic status message
Paced Rhythm
75
HR
2
PVC
Pace pulse marks