ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC MONITORING DURING DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION IN DEMENTED LONG-TERM-CARE PATIENTS

Digital rectal examination (DRE) is frequently performed in nursing ho me patients and may be associated with pain, discomfort and electrocar diographic disturbances. In view of the high number of demented reside nts in long-term care, and the communication difficulties due to their condition, we performed ECG monitoring during rectal examination in o rder to detect any changes. In the great majority (85%) of the 28 pati ents in the study no ECG changes were recorded. Four patients had tach ycardia not directly related to the rectal examination and two female patients had bradycardia with no hemodynamic consequences. Our study s uggests that DRE in demented patients is not associated with significa nt ECG disturbances. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.