Cardiac Event Monitor?

Question

Next week I am getting a cardiac event monitor due to persistant palpitations that have been driving me crazy. My question is, that my palpitations are like only 1 or 2 beats- by the time I press the button to activate the monitor, it will probably be over. I read some info stating that these monitors record a little before the button was hit and a little bit after, but something else I read said they only record once the button is pushed. Does anyone have experience with these? I would hate to have to keep my hand on that button all day in anticipation!

Answer 1

I do remote cardiac monitoring here in the ER, where I work.

It depends on the monitor that you are using.
Most of them record a little bit prior to the actual PVC.
I just printed off one for example and it printed off the rhythm 3 seconds prior to the event that I witnessed. So I would say you have about 2-3 seconds to hit the button to record the event.

I just took a picture to show you. This might help you see what will be recorded.
FINALLY, Sprint came back up!

Here is the pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/siddigrl/tele.jpg

You see a PVC and a couplet (2 PVC's together). I hit the record button just after the couplet appeared. So the telemetry (cardiac monitor) recorded back about 3 seconds. (This patient was a trainwreck, so there is more going on in this strip than just PVCs...but we won't go into that).

I hope this helps!

Good luck! Also, don't worry too much about palipatations. I see patients everyday that get them a lot. The only reason to worry is if you are having more than 6 a minute. And even then, it is not uncommon for many people to have that happen.

You will do fine with the monitor.

Answer 2

I had to wear one of these for 30 days and once you press the button it keeps a record of the last minute or so of your heart beating. If you have the kind that you transmit over the phone you can actually hear the unusual beat when it's transmitting. :) When I got the monitor the nurse reviewed all that information with me and I had to watch an educational video to learn how to use it. I'm sure they'll answer your questions as well.

Answer 3

a halter monitor sound like a better option then this one..the halter one record continuously so theres no need to be pushing a button

Answer 4

They usually go back at least a few seconds. Otherwise, they'd never catch many cardiac events, since most of them are short like yours.

Answer 5

Your doctor should realize this and give you another kind of monitor that records continuously.