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Having an ECG
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Having an ECG
What is an ECG?
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a special test to look at the electrical activity in your heart, this is one through having some stickers on your chest.
The results are shown on a screen and printed on a thin strip of paper. Doctors use the results to check whether your child’s heart is beating normally. Your child will need to lie very still for the scan so it can be helpful to practise this at home beforehand.
On the day you will be asked to take your tops off (you can keep a wireless bra on) and someone will put some stickers on your chest and arms or legs, and connect them to a machine. You then need to stay as still as you can while they take a special picture.
There are not risks associated with having an ECG and is it completely painless.
Having an ECG
An ECG looks at the electrical signals that make your heart beat. This helps the doctors decide how to look after you.
Your parent or carer can come into the room with you. They can stay for the test too.
You will need to take your top off.
We will put some stickers on your chest. We will connect the stickers with wires to the ECG machine.
We may ask you to do some exercise during the test. We may ask you to ride an exercise bike. We may ask you to go up and down stairs or walk along a corridor.
When the test is finished, we will take off the stickers. You can get dressed again.
If you are not having any other tests, you can go home.
Please ask us if you have any questions.
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Disclaimer
Please note: this is a generic information sheet relating to care at Sheffield Children’s NHS FT. These details may not reflect treatment at other hospitals. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professionals’ instructions. If this resource relates to medicines, please read it alongside the medicine manufacturer’s patient information leaflet. If this information has been translated into another language from English, efforts have been made to maintain accuracy, but there may still be some translation errors. If you are unsure about any of the guidance in this resource or have specific questions about how it relates to your child, always ask your healthcare professional for further advice.
Resource number: CRD20
Resource Type: Article
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH
United Kingdom
Switchboard: 0114 271 7000
Interesting Facts
We’ve got a special MRI scanner just for teddies so children can see what it’s like before they have a scan.
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