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 rheumatic. 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.
Highlights
Acquisition of high-quality surface 12-lead ECGs in the Emergency Department (ED) is paramount to facilitate interpretation of different clinical presentations.[1]
We present the case of a 68-year-old male with a history of polymyalgia rheumatic with pain refractory to usual care and implanted with a neuromodulation device (MyStim Neuromodulator Device, Medtronic) (Figure 1A)
Neurostimulator devices produce electrical oscillations that may hinder the procurement of an ECG and can generate artifacts that may interfere with the accurate diagnosis of the data attained.[2]
Summary
Points: 1. This case report brings to light important information regarding ECG artifact to prevent misdiagnosis of atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythms. This case report brings to light important information regarding ECG artifact to prevent misdiagnosis of atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythms. 2. The information will help physicians and technicians identify sources of electromagnetic interference when patients are getting ECGs. 3. The case report will draw to light the importance of obtaining sufficient ECG recordings to make valid medical decisions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
