Question

A client is having an electrocardiogram and the nurse notes a previously undocumented prolonged QT complex suggestive of long QT syndrome. What action should the nurse take first?

Question 4 options:

	a) Double check the placement of the electrocardiogram leads on the client.
	b) Ask the client about any symptoms currently being experienced.
	c) Prepare the client for urgent defibrillation.
	d) Request a second nurse examine the electrocardiogram for verification.

Answer 1

The QT complex represents the phase of ventricular depolarisation and repolarisation. Prolonged QT wave is suggestive of long QT syndrome which indicates cardiac dysrhythmia.

When the nurse notices prolonged QT complex she should double check the placement of ecg leads. Sometimes technical errors such as the environment, the processing of the recording, and the acquisition of the ECG recording, intraobserver and interobserver variability can also result in prolonged QT complex.

Once the nurse makes sure that the ecg leads are placed correctly she can ask other nurse to examine the ECG.

Then ask the patient if he is experiencing any symptoms. Sometimes the patient may not experience any symptoms in long QT syndrome.

The defibrillator may not be needed if there is no life threatening arrhythmia.

So the correct answer is a) double check the placement of the electrocardiogram leads on the client.