24-hour ECG monitoring is a method of instrumental diagnostics, in which the patient's electrocardiogram is recorded for 24 hours a day. The ECG obtained during the examination cannot reliably characterize the work of the heart in all states of physical activity of the body. A conventional cardiogram evaluates the functionality of the heart only at rest, for 5-10 seconds, which means it may not show dangerous and serious violations of cardiac activity.
An improved diagnostic method was proposed by the American biophysicist Norman Holter and therefore it was called 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring. Continuous diagnostics is used not only to detect ischemic changes in the heart and rhythm disturbances, it is also used in antianginal and antiarrhythmic therapy.
The recording is made using a special device that is connected to the patient and fixed with a strap over the shoulder or on the belt. Contact with the patient's bodycarried out by attaching disposable adhesive electrodes. While 24-hour ECG monitoring is carried out, the patient leads a normal life, carrying out all the physical activities necessary for accurate diagnosis. After a predetermined period of time, the cardiologist thoroughly examines the readings taken and compiles a transcript of the cardiogram.
When drawing up a medical report, not only the readings of the device are taken into account, but also changes in the patient's condition, which he writes down in a diary indicating the time interval. The patient should take full responsibility for recording his testimony, taking into account the slightest changes in well-being during physical exertion, medication, sleep and activity. 24-hour ECG monitoring allows diagnosing painful and painless ischemic attacks and compiling a full range of heart rhythm abnormalities.
ECG recorders are divided into several types. Depending on the storage of the electrocardiogram record, they are equipped with electronic memory and magnetic tape. And depending on the amount of memory, they come with fixing fragments and with continuous recording. To analyze the received testimony, a special computer program is used that allows you to decrypt the received record. The latest, improved ECG monitoring recorders perform the initial analysis of the ECG themselves, which greatly speeds up the process of its final decoding oncomputer. Any Holter recording must be examined in detail and corrected by a doctor, because there is no generally accepted standard for decoding.
Any identified pathology must be accompanied by an ECG printout for the specified diagnostic period. Ambulatory ECG monitoring should reflect the following information:
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Holter monitoring interpretation heart rate, its frequency;
- cardiac arrhythmias during ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles;
- rhythmic pauses;
- changes in PQ and QT intervals if they are detected, as well as analysis of changes in the QRS complex due to deviations in intraventricular conduction;
- ventricular end-segment changes and their relationship to patient records.
In modern cardiac diagnostics, Holter monitoring is the most reliable way to detect cardiac disorders. This method has no contraindications and is convenient to use.
