<p>Background and purpose: The relevance of skin preparation</p><p>by abrasion preceded or not by alcohol cleansing for digital</p><p>ECG (dECGs) variables was prospectively evaluated.</p><p>Methods: In 22 healthy male subjects (40.2±9.7 years) dECGs</p><p>were recorded continuously over 5 minute periods at 5 different</p><p>time points at 3 separate 24-hour visits, employing 2 electrode</p><p>types and no skin preparation, abrasion and alcohol cleansing</p><p>before abrasion. Smoothed means dECG data covering 5</p><p>minutes used for statistical analysis on leads V2-3 and V5.</p><p>Results: Significant of skin preparation with reductions for</p><p>skin-impedance and noise (p<0.0001 – p=0.35) for all leads,</p><p>and with no further effect by alcohol cleansing (p>0.46). PRintervals</p><p>were significantly prolonged by skin preparation</p><p>(p=0.0003 – p=0.0165) in leads V2-3 at 120 and 1 440 minutes;</p><p>with additional impact of alcohol at 1 440 minutes (p=0.0005).</p><p>Subject comfort was markedly higher with one of the electrode</p><p>types (p<0.0001).</p><p>Conclusion: Skin preparation by abrasion should be employed</p><p>prior to dECG recordings to improve signal properties.</p><p>Cleansing with alcohol is generally not warranted. Skin</p><p>irritation is dependant on choice of electrode.</p>

Background and purpose: The relevance of skin preparation by abrasion preceded or not by alcohol cleansing for digital ECG (dECGs) variables was prospectively evaluated. Methods: In 22 healthy male subjects (40.2±9.7 years) dECGs were recorded continuously over 5 minute periods at 5 different time points at 3 separate 24-hour visits, employing 2 electrode types and no skin preparation, abrasion and alcohol cleansing before abrasion. Smoothed means dECG data covering 5 minutes used for statistical analysis on leads V2-3 and V5. Results: Significant of skin preparation with reductions for skin-impedance and noise (p<0.0001 – p=0.35) for all leads, and with no further effect by alcohol cleansing (p>0.46). PRintervals were significantly prolonged by skin preparation (p=0.0003 – p=0.0165) in leads V2-3 at 120 and 1 440 minutes; with additional impact of alcohol at 1 440 minutes (p=0.0005). Subject comfort was markedly higher with one of the electrode types (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Skin preparation by abrasion should be employed prior to dECG recordings to improve signal properties. Cleansing with alcohol is generally not warranted. Skin irritation is dependant on choice of electrode.