Bedside cardiac monitoring.

Most newer bedside monitors allow monitoring of 2 leads simultaneously but only allow monitoring of one precordial (V) lead at a time. Leads V1 or V6 can be obtained by using a 5-lead bedside monitoring cable with limb electrodes placed as shown in Figure 1: • Arm electrodes should be placed on the shoulders as close as possible to where the arms join the torso. Although the arm electrodes tiate wide QRS rhythms. Research consistently shows that leads V1 and V6 (or their bipolar equivalents MCL1 and MCL6) are the best leads for differentiating wide QRS rhythms. The QRS morphologies displayed in these leads are invaluable in differentiating ventricular tachycardia from supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction. Other criteria used in the differential diagnosis, such as the presence of AV dissociation, QRS ProtocolsforPractice