Cardiac Event Monitoring can also be referred to as Holter Monitoring, is a medically prescribed, non-invasive procedure that is conducted on patients who are capable of walking or moving around. The Cardiac Event device is utilized to monitor your heart rhythm during normal activities to watch for unusual or irregular beats. This device can either be downloaded for the physician to read in the office or can often be seen remotely by the physician with the monitoring equipment in the office.
Cardiac Event Monitoring is used as a screening tool in the evaluation of patients with symptoms of various forms of heart disease, or in situations where the physician suspects cardiac rhythm changes in the absence of symptoms. Symptoms such as palpitations, lightheadedness or fainting may be caused by disturbances in the electrical signals that control the heart muscle contractions. These disturbances can be random, spontaneous, sleep-related, or emotion- or stress-induced.
Cardiac Event Monitoring is an effective test because the patient assumes normal, daily activities, increasing the likelihood that he or she will experience the precise situations that can trigger symptoms or cardiac events. This allows correlation of any rhythm problems or abnormalities with activities and/or symptoms. Cardiac Event Monitoring can also be used to "rule out" cardiac causes of patients' symptoms if these symptoms occur in the absence of any cardiac event.
Cardiac Event monitoring can be done for 24 hours or up to 30 days depending on what the physician prescribes or how quickly they can determine what the problem may be. The device can either be two electrode patches with wires connected to a small device that fits in a pouch, or newer devices which are a single patch that uses a memory chip to record rhythms for up to 30 days.
Loop Recorder
An implantable loop recorder (ILR), also known as an insertable cardiac monitor, is a small device about the size of a pack of chewing gum or USB memory stick that is implanted just under the skin of the chest to record the heart's electrical activity.