As a medical professional with expertise in cardiology, I can explain the terms "asystole" and "flatline" and their relationship to each other. Asystole is a medical term that refers to the absence of electrical activity in the heart. It is a life-threatening condition where the heart stops beating, and it is often considered a form of cardiac arrest. In an electrocardiogram (ECG), asystole is represented by a completely flat line, which indicates no electrical activity. Flatline, on the other hand, is a more general term that can be used to describe any situation where there is a complete lack of activity or signal. In the context of an ECG, a flatline is indeed indicative of asystole, where there is no detectable heart rhythm. So, while "asystole" is a specific medical condition, "flatline" is a term that can be used more broadly but is often associated with asystole when discussing ECG readings. read more >>

Asystole is defined as a cardiac arrest rhythm in which there is no discernible electrical activity on the ECG monitor. Asystole is sometimes referred to as a ��flat line.�� Confirmation that a ��flat line�� is truly asystole is an important step in the ACLS protocol.read more >>