TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATOR-INDUCED ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ARTIFACT - A BRIEF REPORT

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an effective mod ality for the treatment of pain. TENS use is well tolerated and has re latively few complications. potentially serious complications of TENS use include disruption of cardiac pacemaker function and electrical ar tifact during electrocardiographic monitoring. Electrical interference with cardiac monitoring using parasternal electrodes and electrocardi ograhic (EKG) artifact with an epidural stimulator has been reported, We report the case of EKG artifact produced by surface TENS electrodes applied to the thoracic and lumbar regions, The electrical signal pro duced by the TENS unit created an electrocardiographic artifact resemb ling a pacemaker spike on routine EKG. This was interpreted as a malfu nctioning cardiac pacemaker. The easily misinterpreted electrical spik es that can result from TENS use as seen in this case highlights the n eed for physician awareness of this potential complication.