EKGECG

EKGECG is not a standard term in medical literature. It is occasionally encountered as a combined or erroneous referent to either EKG or ECG, abbreviations for electrocardiogram and electrocardiography. Both terms describe the same test that records the heart's electrical activity.

EKG and ECG derive from different language traditions; EKG originates from the German Elektrokardiogramm, while ECG is the English acronym. The terms are used interchangeably in many regions, though ECG is now more widely adopted in current international practice. The procedure itself uses surface electrodes placed on the chest and limbs to capture electrical signals as the heart beats.

Standard practice includes a 12-lead recording that provides multiple perspectives on the heart's activity; durations vary from brief resting traces to longer ambulatory monitoring with a Holter device over 24 to 48 hours. Modern machines store digital data and often include automatic interpretation algorithms, with clinicians reviewing findings.

Interpretation focuses on waveforms and intervals: P wave, PR interval, QRS complex, ST segment, QT interval. Abnormalities can indicate arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia or infarction, chamber enlargement, conduction blocks, or electrolyte and drug effects.

Limitations include susceptibility to motion, poor electrode contact, or interference from body habitus and external electronics. ECG findings must be integrated with clinical context and, when necessary, additional imaging or laboratory tests.