A Review of Bandwidth for Pediatric ECGs

ECGs from neonates are known to have a higher frequency content than adult ECGs.The aim of the study was to determine the effect of using different filter bandwidths on neonatal ECGs initially sampled at a rate of 8000 samples per second (which permits the use of a signal bandwidth much higher than 150 Hz) and to consider the implications for routine ECG recording.48 ECGs were recorded from newly born term infants (0-48 hours postnatal) at Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow on a Burdick 8500 electrocardiograph. The frequency response of the machine was carefully checked. Peak to peak QRS amplitudes of average beats of the 10 second recordings were measured in all 8 independent leads with the results obtained at the full bandwidth of the ECG machine regarded as the reference.The full bandwidth of the 8500 was verified as 0.05 – 540Hz. It was found that the recommended upper frequency cutoff of 250Hz in the current guideline does not meet the goal of amplitude errors <25 μV in >95% of the cases in this data set. The clinical significance of high frequency components in pediatric ECGs is currently unclear.