External Heart Monitor

External heart monitors can be likened it to a continuous electrocardiogram or EKG. While the EKG is a minimally invasive, accurate diagnostic tool, its limitation comes in the form of monitoring timeframe. EKGs only offer a snapshot in time and many arrhythmias are intermittent or paroxysmal in nature. As a result, your electrophysiologist may fit you with an external heart monitor. These heart monitors generally fall into two categories:

Holter monitors offer continuous monitoring of the heart rhythm. Leads are connected to the chest in similar fashion to an EKG and connect to a box that is held around the chest or hip area. After a predetermined amount of time, the data is downloaded by your doctor and analyzed for any heart irregularities.

Event monitors are very similar; however, they rely on patients to trigger the recording mechanism. As soon as patients start to feel an arrhythmia, they press a button to begin the recording. The information is then transmitted to the physician that can analyze and interpret it.

Of particular note, you may be wondering about wearable EKGs in the form of watches such as the Apple Watch. There is not enough data or experience with these wearables to consider than a proper diagnostic tool. If you do have a wearable EKG tool, please speak to Dr. Patibandla as to how to best use it, if at all.

External heart monitors can be very useful for short term monitoring his heart arrhythmias. This is particularly true for patients who are having paroxysmal, but relatively frequent episodes. For those with more occasional episodes, the external event monitors may not be suitable, and an implantable loop recorder may be more practical and effective.

Due to the noninvasive nature of these monitors, there is virtually no risk of use.