Cardiac Monitoring

If your physician requires more information than an EKG/ECG (electrocardiogram) provides, you may be asked to use a cardiac monitor to record cardiac rhythm for an extended period of time.

Depending on the type of information to be gathered, you would use either a:

• Holter Monitor: worn by the patient continuously for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours and cannot be removed during this time. The patient returns the monitor at the end of the monitoring period. The recorded data is uploaded, analyzed and a final report is created.
• Cardiac Event Monitor: worn by the patient for up to 30 days and can be removed for showering and changing electrodes. This monitor scans heart rhythm but does not record unless the patient activates it when symptomatic or when there are variations in heart rhythm. The patient transmits the recordings for review to our monitoring center each day. At the end of the monitoring period, the patient returns the monitor. All recordings/transmissions during that time are combined, reviewed again and a final report is created.
• Mobile Cardiac Telemetry (MCT) Monitor: worn by the patient for up to 30 days and can be removed for showering and changing electrodes. It records all heart rhythm, whether patient-activated or not, and automatically transmits data to our monitoring center. At the end of the monitoring period, the patient returns the monitor. All recordings/transmissions are reviewed again and a final report is created.
• Implantable Loop Recorder: similar to the MCT monitor, but is implanted under the skin and records and transmits the patient’s heart rhythm for up to 3 years. All recordings/transmissions are reviewed throughout this time and when recorder is removed, a final report is created.

Cardiac event monitors are especially important for management of cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. They provide long-term remote cardiac monitoring through trans-telephonic or wireless technology to help track and diagnose irregular heart rhythms.