[The automated ECG laboratory: equipment and operational problems (author's transl)]

In the light of recent advances in technology, the basic equipment of an automated ECG laboratory is described. The main features of data acquisition terminals, data receiver/controller units, A/D converters, computers, visual displays and systems for storage and retrieval of tracings, are briefly discussed. Three major alternatives are open for computer-aided ECG interpretation today: 1) complete, dedicated system in the hospital; 2) ECG data collection system with offline analysis by hospital business computer; 3) ECG service center outside of the hospital. Advantages and possible limitations of these methods are discussed. At the Ospedale Civile Regionale of Udine we have choosen the first method. An HP 1530 ECG interpretative system and the 12-lead ECG analysis program developed by Caceres-USPHS are used. Analog tracing and interpretative printout are available in the laboratory and/or at the patient location in about one minute. Our system has been working for less than one year. At present, 150-200 ECG are processed daily. Such an ECG processing system has proven to yield considerable savings in time and manpower. Some operational problems related to shifting from manual to computer work have been gradually overcome and will be discussed.