by welluehealth | Feb 18, 2022 | MED PROS
Emergency medical service(EMS) is an essential part of the health care system and is always expected to be available always and continuously in case of need.
The 12-lead ECG is one of the most fantastic advances in EMS treatment since the invention of the bandage. It has proven to be a landmark addition to the EMS toolkit as the critical diagnostic aid to provide care in the field, guide transport to the most appropriate hospital for acute heart conditions, and allow notification of the hospital so that emergency staff can be prepared.
The movement of this powerful diagnostic tool from the confines of the hospital to the streets has been nothing short of revolutionary. It has given EMS professionals a wealth of information on how to best care for our patients and has driven hospital care and the development of medical care practices by providing clear and critical data that physicians had rarely before seen.
What is a 12-Lead ECG Machine?
A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that is recorded using leads, or nodes, attached to the body.
It can identify a variety of heart problems, rhythm abnormalities, and cardiac injuries. Its addition serves as the basis for updating EMS protocols to improve the care of patients suffering many types of acute cardiac events.
Most importantly, the 12-lead EKG is the only tool to identify a patient with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It could reproduce QRS, ST, and T waveforms accurately, and provides evidence of P wave and QRS complex morphology that cannot be determined by single-Lead ECG.
Not all hospitals provide acute treatment interventions for this condition, so the crucial EMS role is to identify patients with that disease and then, if possible, transport the patient for immediate intervention. There are many outstanding cases of EMS personnel identifying the patient having an MI, communicating that condition to the emergency department, and helping move the patient to the cardiac lab.
Application of 12-lead ECG in the diagnosis of STEMI
For ST-elevation myocardial infarction, the mortality of patients is closely related to the time from chest pain to perfusion (Ischemic to balloon time, also called myocardial hypoxia time).
The demonstrated advantages of 12-Lead ECG in EMS
In 2006, the New England Journal of Medicine published that if the cardiac catheterization room can be activated before the patient arrives at the hospital, it will effectively reduce the time of myocardial hypoxia. However, the proportion of patients who can complete the pre-hospital ECG diagnosis is still not high.
In some cities, ambulances are equipped with 12-lead ECG equipment. When the fire rescue arrives at the rescue scene, they can first perform an ECG examination according to the condition. If it is judged to be STEMI, then the catheter would be called to activate immediately. In this way, when the patient arrives at the hospital, the Cath Lab would be ready to arrange cardiac catheterization, so as to reduce the preparation time of the cath lab, thereby shortening the time from hospital to perfusion.
Actually, even if the ambulance directly transfers the patient to the cardiac catheterization hospital, the activation of the cath lab will take a lot of time, which includes the organization of the cardiac catheterization team, the preparation of machines and equipment, etc. At present, if the hospital needs to activate the acute cardiac catheterization team, the notification can only be confirmed after the patient arrives at the emergency room and complete the ECG diagnosis.
In the emergency scene, 12-Lead ECG is used to complete the ECG detection, and some of the machines are able to automatically interpret and transmit the ECG report to the expert to establish the diagnosis result in advance, and then transfer it to the cardiac catheterization hospital, thus the early treatment could reduce the time of myocardial hypoxia and mortality rate effectively.
How Wellue can help
Wellue offers two types of portable 12-Lead ECG Machines, the Biocare 12-Lead EKG Machine, and the Wellue® 12-Lead ECG Tablet. By popularizing these tools into the field, they have almost made heart attacks into minor medical complaints that can be effectively treated if caught early.
The flexible size of 197mm×112.4mm×26.1mm (7.8”x4.4”x1.0”), makes it easy to fit in your pocket. With the Wellue® 12-lead ECG tablet, you can make heart diagnoses everywhere immediately on your hand.
There are two measuring methods to choose from 9 leads and 12 leads. Whether in an ambulance, fire rescue or field medical, air rescue, no need to print, editing EKG reports, analyzing, reviewing, and saving data will all take place in one touch-screen tablet. Most importantly, this tablet supports file sharing between Android devices, therefore the EMS team can send reports to the hospital on their way. Once a physician confirms the result, the hospital can take the patient with a severe heart attack to the cath lab directly. Wellue® 12-Lead ECG tablet helps to make faster cardiac medical decisions and will largely improve the efficiency of heart diagnosis.
This portable EKG machine only weighs 1.3kg (2.9lbs). Compares to many EKG devices which normally weigh about 2kg (4.4lbs), this EKG machine is definitely an indispensable tool in the EMS toolkit.
The set includes a metal handle for emergency staff to carry around in the rescue.
This compact machine is also equipped with a printer, which prints out the analysis in 3×4 format. So you can get a quick view of your patients in just a few seconds, and pass the result to cardiologists or physicians so that the hospital can get ready in advance.
We are dedicated to developing products with medical-grade accuracy but consumer friendly, finding an easier and more modern way to track your wellness, we believe you can get peace of mind to live a healthier and longer life.
by welluehealth | Feb 15, 2022 | Respiratory
What your blood oxygen level shows
Your red blood cells are like vehicles. Each can carry up to four oxygen molecules across your body, getting them to places like your heart and brain. Your body’s vital systems need a normal percentage of oxygen inside your blood at all times, known as your oxygen saturation. However, sometimes your blood can get either too much or too little oxygen, and in these cases, there can be serious health consequences.
People with chronic health conditions many need to monitor their blood oxygen level. This includes asthma, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In these cases, monitoring your blood oxygen level can help determine if treatments are working, or if they should be adjusted.
Keep reading to learn where your blood oxygen level should be, what symptoms you may experience if your level is off, and what happens next.
Where your blood oxygen level should fall
A measurement of your blood oxygen is called your oxygen saturation level. In medical shorthand, you may hear it called a PaO2 when using a blood gas and an O2 sat (SpO2) when using a pulse ox. These guidelines will help you understand what your result might mean:
Normal Blood Oxygen Levels
Older adults typically have lower oxygen saturation levels than younger adults. For example, someone older than 70 years of age may have an oxygen saturation level of about 95%, which is an acceptable level.
It is important to note that the oxygen saturation level varies considerably based on a person’s state of health. Thus, it is important to understand both baseline readings and underlying physiology associated with certain conditions to interpret oxygen saturation levels and changes in these levels.
- People who are obese and/or have conditions such as lung and cardiovascular diseases, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congenital heart disease and sleep apnea tend to have lower oxygen saturation levels.
- Smoking can influence the accuracy of pulse oximetry in which the the SpO2 is low or falsely high depending on whether hypercapnia is present. With hypercapnia, it is difficult for the pulse oximeter to differentiate oxygen in the blood from carbon monoxide (caused by smoking).
- Oxygen saturation levels may decrease slightly when a person is talking.
- Oxygen saturation may remain normal (e.g., 97% and higher) for people with anemia. However, this may not indicate adequate oxygenation because there are less hemoglobin to carry an adequate supply of oxygen for people who have anemia. The inadequate supply of oxygen may be more prominent during activity for people with anemia.
- Falsely low oxygen saturation levels may be associated with hypothermia, decreased peripheral perfusion, and cold extremities. In these cases, an ear lobe pulse oximeter device or arterial blood gases would provide a more accurate oxygen saturation level. However, arterial blood gases are usually only taken in critical care or emergency settings.
Points to Consider
For medical purposes, a normal blood oxygen saturation rate is often considered between 95% and 100%.In practice, the SpO2 range of 92–100% is generally acceptable for most clients. Some experts have suggested that a SpO2 level of at least 90% will prevent hypoxic tissue injury and ensure client safety (Beasley, et al., 2016).
Low Blood Oxygen Levels
The medical definition of a low blood oxygen rate is any percentage below 90% oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation below 90% is very concerning and indicates an emergency. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know experiences such a low blood oxygen level.
When Low Oxygen Saturation Affects Your Brain
By the time your oxygen saturation has fallen to between 80% and 85%, your brain may be affected by the lack of oxygen. You may also experience vision changes.
What happens if your oxygen level is too low
When your blood oxygen level goes outside the typical range, you may begin experiencing symptoms.
This includes:
shortness of breath
chest pain
confusion
headache
rapid heartbeat
Cyanosis
The first visible symptoms of low blood oxygen, cyanosis causes a blue tinge to develop on your skin, particularly around your mouth and lips and beneath your fingernail matrix. This change occurs when your blood oxygen saturation reaches approximately 67%.
Cyanosis is considered an emergency. If you’re experiencing symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. Cyanosis can lead to respiratory failure, which can be life-threatening.
What causes blood oxygen levels to be low
Conditions that can negatively affect your blood oxygen level include:
COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
acute respiratory distress syndrome
asthma
collapsed lung
anemia
congenital heart defects
heart disease
pulmonary embolism
These conditions may prevent your lungs from adequately inhaling oxygen-containing air and exhaling carbon dioxide. Likewise, blood disorders and problems with your circulatory system may prevent your blood from picking up oxygen and transporting it throughout your body.
Any of these problems or disorders can lead to declining oxygen saturation levels. As your oxygen levels fall, you may begin experiencing symptoms of hypoxemia.
People who smoke may have an inaccurately high pulse ox reading. Smoking causes carbon monoxide to build up in your blood. A pulse ox can’t tell the difference between this other type of gas and oxygen.
If you smoke and need to know your blood oxygen level, an ABG may be the only way to receive an accurate reading.
How to adjust your blood oxygen level
If your blood oxygen level is too low, you may need to boost your oxygen saturation. This is often done with supplemental oxygen.
Home supplemental oxygen is considered a medication, and your doctor must prescribe it. It’s important to follow your doctor’s specific advice on how home oxygen should be used to avoid complications. Your health insurance may cover the expense.
We are dedicated to developing products with medical-grade accuracy but consumer friendly, finding an easier and more modern way to track your wellness, we believe you can get peace of mind to live a healthier and longer life.
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