The dynamic electrocardiogram according to Holter, better known as Cardiac Holter or Holter ECG, allows monitoring of the electrical activity of the heart in a time interval varying between 24 and 72 hours.
The recorder used is a small device attached to the belt using a support. Data acquisition occurs thanks to electrodes positioned on the chest (those used for recording the standard electrocardiogram) that record the electrical impulses of the heart. Once the recording is complete, the stored trace is analyzed using dedicated software. The cardiologist will analyze the results and prepare the report, providing a conclusive response that also evaluates the patient's reports of any symptoms recorded during the exam.

What is a Cardiac Holter used for and when is it performed?

A Cardiac Holter usually lasts 24 hours and can sometimes be extended, with dedicated equipment, to 48 and 72 hours. It is usually requested for the following reasons:

• Evaluate heart rhythm

• Evaluate conduction disorders of the heart's electrical system in cardiac tissue

• Trying to interpret a loss of consciousness, a heart palpitations

• Evaluation of the efficacy or tolerability of medical therapy

• Evaluate for unknown ischemic heart disease.

Sometimes it may be necessary to use a device that allows the recording of the 12 leads of the electrocardiogram (like a standard electrocardiogram and not just three leads as in the standard Holter. This test allows a more accurate and sensitive diagnosis of silent ischemia, in the case of arrhythmias it allows to identify their morphology and origin (as in a normal basal ECG) and in the case of genetic cardiac diseases (called channelopathies) such as Brugada disease to identify their presence in a spontaneous form.