Vi-like' and VF-like' leads for continuous electrocardiographic monitoring.

An increasing number of patients is being monitored in Coronary Care Units; however, there have been few attempts to standardize monitoring techniques (Marriott and Fogg, I968, I970; Marriott and Thorne, I97I). In most units, the monitoring leads are placed arbitrarily to monitor clear P and QRS complexes. Electrode positioning varies from unit to unit, from patient to patient, and even from day to day in the same patient, thus making comparison of recorded tracings factitious. The resultant lead has been sarcastically labelled 'BBL' (bastard bipolar lead) (Marriott and Fogg, I970). In order to improve monitoring techniques, a lead system based on that of Marriot and Fogg (I970) was introduced into our unit at the Negev Central Hospital, Beer Sheva, Israel.