Warnings
9650-000820-01 Rev. K
Propaq M Operator’s Guide
1-11
ECG Monitoring
•
Implanted pacemakers might cause the heart rate meter to count the pacemaker rate during
incidents of cardiac arrest or other arrhythmias. Dedicated pacemaker detection circuitry
may not detect all implanted pacemaker spikes. Check the patient's pulse; do not rely solely
on heart rate meters. Patient history and physical examination are important factors in
determining the presence of an implanted pacemaker. Pacemaker patients should be
carefully observed. See “Pacemaker Pulse Rejection:” on page A-3 of this manual for
disclosure of the pacemaker pulse rejection capability of this instrument.
•
Use only ECG electrodes that meet the AAMI standard for electrode performance
(AAMI EC-12). Use of electrodes not meeting this AAMI standard could cause the ECG
trace recovery after defibrillation to be significantly delayed.
•
Do not place electrodes directly over an implanted pacemaker.
•
The Propaq M unit detects ECG electrical signals only. It does not detect a pulse (effective
circulatory perfusion). Always verify pulse and heart rate by physical assessment of the
patient. Never assume that the display of a nonzero heart rate means that the patient has a
pulse.
•
Excessive artifact can result due to improper skin preparation of the electrode sites. Follow
skin preparation instructions in Chapter 6: “Monitoring ECG.”
•
Equipment such as electrocautery or diathermy equipment, RFID readers, electronic article
surveillance (EAS) systems, or metal detectors that emit strong radio frequency signals can
cause electrical interference and distort the ECG signal displayed by the monitor, thereby
preventing accurate rhythm analysis. Ensure adequate separation between such emitters, the
device, and the patient when performing rhythm analysis.
•
Shock Hazard: Use of accessories, other than those specified in the operating instructions,
may adversely affect patient leakage currents.
•
Certain line-isolation monitors may cause interference on the ECG display and may inhibit
heart rate alarms.
Pulse Oximeter
•
Keep the ZOLL finger probe clean and dry.
•
SpO
2
measurements may be affected by certain patient conditions: severe right heart failure,
tricuspid regurgitation or obstructed venous return.
•
SpO
2
measurements may be affected when using intravascular dyes, in extreme
vasoconstriction or hypovolemia or under conditions where there is no pulsating arterial
vascular bed.
•
SpO
2
measurements may be affected in the presence of strong EMI fields, electrosurgical
devices, IR lamps, bright lights, improperly applied sensors; the use of non-ZOLL sensors,
or damaged sensors; in patients with smoke inhalation, or carbon monoxide poisoning, or
with patient movement.
•
Tissue damage can result if sensors are applied incorrectly, or left in the same location for an
extended period of time. Move sensor every 4 hours to reduce possibility of tissue damage.
•
Do not use any oximetry sensors during MRI scanning. MRI procedures can cause
conducted current to flow through the sensors, causing patient burns.
•
Do not apply SpO
2
sensor to the same limb that has an NIBP cuff. The SpO
2
alarm may
sound when the arterial circulation is cut off during NIBP measurements, and may affect
SpO
2
measurements.
•
In some instances, such as obstructed airway, the patient's breathing attempts may not
produce any air exchange. These breathing attempts can still produce chest size changes,
creating impedance changes, which can be detected by the respiration detector. It is best to
use the pulse oximeter whenever monitoring respirations, to accurately depict the patient's
respiratory condition.
