12-lead EKG’s are the most common type of ECG used for clinical purposes. A 12-lead ECG provides a comprehensive evaluation of the heart’s electrical activity and is useful for diagnosing and monitoring a range of cardiac conditions.
It uses 10 electrodes to record the heart’s electrical activity from 12 different angles. Six limb leads on the arms and legs and six precordial leads on the chest. For a in-depth guide on 12-lead ECG placement, click here.
6-LEAD
6-lead ECG’s are a simplified version of the 12-lead ECG and use six electrodes to record the heart’s electrical activity from six different leads. The six leads include three limb leads and three precordial leads. While a 6-lead ECG is less comprehensive than a 12-lead ECG, they may be useful in certain situations. For example, in situations such as monitoring patients with pacemakers or assessing cardiac function during exercise.
3-LEAD
In a 3-lead EKG, three electrodes attach on the right arm, the left arm, and the left leg. This type of EKG is commonly used in emergency settings, routine check-ups, or in cases where continuous cardiac monitoring is needed.
3-lead EKGs are less comprehensive compared to 12-lead EKG’s. Therefore, they may not capture the abnormalities that a 12-lead EKG could detect.