For a normal ECG, which leads are selected for monitoring?

In a normal ECG, the most appropriate leads selected for monitoring are Leads I and II. These leads provide a good representation of the heart's electrical activity, particularly in assessing the rate and rhythm of the heart. Lead I provides a view of the lateral wall of the left ventricle, while Lead II offers a good perspective on the atrial and ventricular depolarization sequence.

Leads I and II are commonly used in routine monitoring because they are effective for detecting arrhythmias and overall heart function. They also offer the advantage of being easily interpretable when looking for common issues like atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias.

While other leads like V1 and V2 focus on the right side of the heart and can be useful in diagnosing certain conditions, they are not typically the primary leads used for overall monitoring due to their limited perspective compared to Leads I and II. Similarly, Leads III and V3 offer additional information specific to different areas of the heart but do not provide the comprehensive view that Leads I and II do. Consequently, using Leads I and II ensures a robust assessment of the heart's electrical activity during monitoring.