Can metal on body alter ECG results?

[tex8vc]

Hiya,

Just wondering if wearing Silver/ Gold ring on finger and a Gold chain in neck can alter the ECG results? If yes how far/ bad!?

Anybody with any experience!

Thanks.

p.s. I should have added this to my last post (Short QT interval) but I want more comments on this issue before I put my recent expereince on that post.

[rhovsquared]

stop worrying about EKG's tex8vc before you have a haert attack :E :}

[tex8vc]

Rhov,
I am not worrying about my ECG but I want to investigate the reason behind my first ECG showing Short Qt Interval.

The second one done at another clinic does not show any abnormity. (normal) so I asked the technician the reason behind and she said some time metal on body can alter results. That is why she ask me to remove all my rings and chain in neck and results were normal.!?

So I am wondering how true is that? And if anybody faced similar problem?
Because links you people gave me on Short QT indicate that this syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and can be fixed by Qunidine only!
And have no family history on that and never took Qunidine to fix it??!!!!

Which also means, there can be people who actually don’t have Short QT but their results got altered?

Did anybody got a normal ECG with metal on body, specially chain in neck?

Thanks.

[earnest]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/srbrown/cyberman.jpg
Mine was a bit odd, too, but the CAA gave me an exemption.

[tex8vc]

Earnest,

If its fine with you, would you mind explaining it!

I mean was it because of metal?

Thanks!

[Tall Boy]

Haha, either you are another Kiwi with no sarcasm detector or you are an absolute master at giving it out.... :D

[Old Smokey]

Maybe it will, and maybe it won't affect the ECG. Either way, the potential is there to develop this into a 547 page thread on Pprune.

In the interests of conserving Danny's valuable band-width, may I offer the following suggestion to eliminate any possibility of interferance with the ECG......

Recommendation - Remove the metal objects prior to the ECG.

Sorry if that was a bit complex!:ooh:

Regards,

Old Smokey

[rhovsquared]

tex8vc: listen to Old Smokey, then no worries :)

[n818af]

EKG is not always accurate. One time the cardiologist told me I can die any moment after an EKG. Did electrophysiology study, treadmill and stuff, all came back normal. Got my medical back, no waivers and a full class I. But it took me months. So don't worry too much.

[chimbu warrior]

What about metal IN body? Some people have plates or rods fitted, also prosthetic hips. Can these alter results?

And no, you can't just remove them before having an ECG.

[captwannabe]

The ECG causes too many unnecessary complications. They should abandon the test, and use something like an echo-cg.

[tezzer]

Hmm interested in this one, as my ECG shows an abnormality. No explanation, but I have an elbow pinned and plated having thrown myself off a cliff, 10 years ago. Maybe thats it, or maybe I'm just goona keel over aftr years of a sedentary lifestyle and alcohol abuse !

[tex8vc]

Hiya,
May I request Moderator to club this post with my initial post " Short QT interval on ECG".
This surely calls for intensive research on the procedures and interpretation of ECG's by GPs.
Ignorance of such issues by few GPs conducting aviation medicals not only cause unnecessary stress to pilots, other professionals and their families but also force them to spent big amount of money for no reason. And at the end when nothing comes out (normal body function) who should one seek answer from, CAA/ GP/Specialist???
On the other hand, this might kill a wannabes dream to fly!!! Who might not want/afford to spent on further investigation.
One should not be throwing the baby out with the water!

Good luck to all those who are facing/would face this problem.

[captwannabe]

On the other hand, this might kill a wannabes dream to fly!!! Who might not want/effort to spent on further investigation.

I had to repeat my ECG. It was unbelievably frustrating, especially as I decided to do the repeat in Ireland (The health system is bordering on third world standards! We are better than Lithuania though). It took me around 4 months I think to get it all sorted, but I was stressed for that time. It did however make me even more determined to succeed. ECGs are more trouble than they're worth.

Regards

[alwayzinit]

Had an ECG about a month ago, the nurse put the sensor on my left arm near my watch......... she was in a bit of a rush as it was towards the end of the day.......starts trace nearly has a heart attack as trace is all over the place.

At which point I ask her if she would like me to remove my watch;)

Laughs all round new trace no probs:ok:

So yeah take off whatever metal you can ( cranial plates excluded!)

Alwayz

[onya]

I had an ECG some years ago that came back with some problems. Doctor didn't even tell me but forwarded all the stuff off to CASA. 6 weeks later having not received my new class 1 medical I called CASA and they told me that they weren't going to issue it until further investigation had been done into the apparent problem. Was quite a shock. I took it upon myself to get an independant evaluation (another ECG) and it came back perfectly normal. I then had a cardiologist review the results and he concured that it was more than likely a glitch in the machine. 2 more ECG's were conducted by him, both absolutely normal. My advice to you would be to have an independant evaluation, consult a cardiologist for nothing more than peace of mind, and put the issue to bed. And good luck my friend. I'm sure it was just a hiccup with the machine. :ok: