Where do you put the lead if the patient's right arm is amputated above the elbow?

When a patient's right arm is amputated above the elbow, the appropriate placement for the EKG lead is on the upper part of the remaining arm. This is critical because the electrical signals of the heart need to be captured accurately. The standard placement for the right arm lead is typically near the shoulder or upper section of the arm to ensure minimal interference and optimal signal detection. Placing the lead on the upper part allows for better conductivity and representation of the heart's electrical activity, which might be altered if positioned elsewhere.

If the lead were placed on the wrist of the right arm, there may not be enough signal quality due to the lack of tissue and muscle that facilitate electrical conduction. Placing the lead on the left leg or left arm, while potentially useful for other leads, does not serve the purpose of replicating the right arm lead placement accurately and could lead to a misinterpretation of the EKG readings. Thus, positioning the lead on the remaining portion of the upper arm is the most suitable choice for maintaining the integrity of the EKG monitoring.