Can you analyse an ecg?

Yes, an electrocardiogram (ECG) can be analyzed to assess heart rhythm and detect abnormalities. ECG monitoring is essential in various clinical contexts, such as during administration of certain drugs (adenosine, enoximone, adrenaline, potassium chloride) to monitor cardiac effects and ensure patient safety ¹,²,³,⁴.

In primary care, ECG analysis is a key step in evaluating symptoms like palpitations, where it helps identify arrhythmias, conduction blocks, or signs of structural heart disease, guiding further management or referral ⁵.

For patients with chronic heart failure, ECG analysis is recommended to detect arrhythmias such as atrial tachycardia, which may influence treatment decisions ⁶.

However, interpretation of ECGs requires clinical expertise and should be integrated with patient history, symptoms, and other investigations for accurate diagnosis and management ⁵,⁶.