Flatline

It can possibly be generated by malfunction of the electrocardiography device, but it is recommended to first rule out true asystole because of the emergence of such condition.

[2] Causes: ECG/EKG flatline or asystole occurs when the heart's electrical and mechanical activities stop.

[3][2] ECG flat line also occurs when the electrocardiographic (ECG/EKG) leads or recording electrodes are placed incorrectly.

[6] The definition of death has changed over time, but the loss of cardiac and neurological function have been the main criteria for centuries.

[7] Then, the standard for viewing cardiac activity changed in 1887 when Augustus Waller recorded the first ECG from the human heart with a mercury capillary electrometer.

[8] This sparked research into modern ECG technology, which was developed from the mercury capillary electrometer by Willem Einthoven.

[10][8] With the ECG, the characteristics of a dying heart were identified, creating the leading tool for diagnosing death– even to this day.

[7] However, in the mid 19th century with the invention of the defibrillator and cardioversion, it was realized that the flatline on the ECG did not always mean death.

[11] The machine consisted of steel electrodes that get mounted on the scalp with an EEG cap to visualize and interpret signals.

[12] They determined that a person reached this state when they were apneic, comatose, without brainstem reflexes, and showed no electroencephalographic (EEG) activity.

When an individual goes into cardiac arrest providers will start CPR immediately and then try to determine whether the rhythm is shockable.