What is meant by flat line?

A flatline is an electrical time sequence measurement that shows no activity and therefore, when represented, shows a flat line instead of a moving one.

Is asystole a flat line?

Asystole, colloquially referred to as flatline, represents the cessation of electrical and mechanical activity of the heart. Asystole typically occurs as a deterioration of the initial non-perfusing ventricular rhythms: ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (V-tach).

Can asystole be treated?

Asystole is treated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combined with an intravenous vasopressor such as epinephrine (a.k.a. adrenaline). Sometimes an underlying reversible cause can be detected and treated (the so-called “Hs and Ts”, an example of which is hypokalaemia).

What does asystole look like on an ECG?

EKG Features Asystole is a condition of no electrical activity in the heart. It is seen on an EKG as a flatline. Cardiac contractions have stopped and no blood is flowing.

Can you defib a flat line?

Pulseless electrical activity and asystole or flatlining (3 and 4), in contrast, are non-shockable, so they don’t respond to defibrillation. These rhythms indicate that the heart muscle itself is dysfunctional; it has stopped listening to the orders to contract.

What happens if you flat line?

Asystole (ay-sis-stuh-lee) is when there’s no electricity or movement in your heart. That means you don’t have a heartbeat. It’s also known as flatline. That’s because doctors check the rhythm of your heart with a machine called an electrocardiogram — also called an ECG or EKG.

What does it mean if the ECG shows flat line?

The EEG – or electroencephalogram – measures the brain activity of the patient. Medical professionals have long accepted that a flat line EEG indicates an irreversible coma, one of the most serious types of comas. Furthermore, a flat line EEG is often an indication that the brain is no longer alive.

What are normal ECG results?

Normal ECG. A normal ECG is illustrated above. Note that the heart is beating in a regular sinus rhythm between 60 – 100 beats per minute (specifically 82 bpm). All the important intervals on this recording are within normal ranges.

What is an example of an ECG?

An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows the heart’s electrical activity and may reveal muscle thickening, damage, or a lack of oxygen. 0. Examples include lumbar puncture (spinal tap), urine collection, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), additional blood tests, or electrocardiogram (ECG).

What is an EKG service?

EKG DEFINITION. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a procedure used to monitor heart health. Electric impulses produced by special cells found on the upper right chamber of the heart triggers each and every heartbeat. In turn, an EKG is used by your doctor to look for heart rhythm and heartbeat patterns to screen for a variety of heart diseases.