What can misplacement of ECG electrodes lead to?

• A. Faster data transmission
• B. No change in readings
• C. Longer battery life
• D. Altered waveforms and potentially inaccurate diagnosis or treatment

Answer: (D)

Accurate ECG interpretation depends on recording the heart’s electrical activity along the correct vectors. Each electrode measures a voltage difference, and the combination of these measurements into different leads builds the picture of how the heart’s electrical impulses travel. If the electrodes are placed incorrectly, those vectors are captured in the wrong orientation or swapped, producing distorted or inverted waveforms, altered QRS shapes, abnormal ST-T changes, and apparent axis deviations. These waveform changes can mimic conditions like ischemia or infarction or mask real problems, leading to inaccurate diagnosis or inappropriate treatment. Misplacement doesn’t inherently change data speed or battery life; it simply alters the signal you see.