CLINICAL NURSING PROCEDURES A comparison between EASI system 12-lead ECGs and standard 12-lead ECGs for improved clinical nursing practice Loreto Lancia MNS, RN Associate Professor of Nursing Science, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy Marina Pisegna Cerone MNS, RN Critical Care Nurse, Department of Critical Care, Hospital of Avezzano, Avezzano, Italy Pierpaolo Vittorini PhD Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy Silvio Romano MD Assistant Professor of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy Maria Penco MD Professor of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy Submitted for publication: 22 April 2006 Accepted for publication: 17 November 2006 Correspondence: L Lancia Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health University of L’Aquila L’Aquila Italy Telephone: +39 0862 434690 E-mail: loreto.lancia@cc.univaq.it LANCIA L, PISEGNA CERONE M, VITTORINI P, ROMANO S & PENCO M LANCIA L, PISEGNA CERONE M, VITTORINI P, ROMANO S & PENCO M (2008) (2008) Journal of Clinical Nursing 17, 370–377 A comparison between EASI system 12-lead ECGs and standard 12-lead ECGs for improved clinical nursing practice Aims and objectives. This study was carried out to verify the accuracy of 12-Lead ECG, obtained through a continuous ECG monitoring system with five cables positioned in EASI mode, to identify basic ECG alterations. Background. This study concerns continuous ECG monitoring systems in Coronary Care Units. Continuous ECG monitoring is an important device for nursing surveillance and is useful in decreasing adverse events. Design and method. Thirteen patients admitted consecutively to the Coronary Care Unit for Acute Myocardial Infarction underwent daily and simultaneous recording of a12-lead ECG using both procedures: EASI ECG and STANDARD ECG. A sample of 1164 ECG leads acquired in EASI mode was compared with a sample of as many ECG leads acquired using the standard procedure with a traditional cardiograph. Results and conclusions. In the Coronary Care Unit, Continous ECG monitoring with five cables positioned in EASI mode is a valid alternative to the standard 12- lead ECG for cardiac rhythm abnormalities detection and for acute myocardial 370 Ó 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation Ó 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01935.x