Continuous Electrocardiographic Monitoring using an “Event Recorder” also called an “external loop recorder” allows recording of the cardiac electrical activity in conjunction with the patient's symptoms and for a long period of time (weeks – months).

The recorder used is a small device applied to the chest, connected to wires that receive the electrical impulses of the heart through electrodes applied to the patient's chest. Once the recording is finished, the stored trace is analyzed using dedicated software. The cardiologist will analyze the results and prepare the report, providing a conclusive response that evaluates the patient's reports correlating them to the recorded rhythm.

Sometimes, due to the rarity of the symptoms, it is necessary to use micro devices that are implanted under the skin of the chest (with minimal local anesthesia in an outpatient or day hospital setting) for a recording lasting approximately 3 years.

What is Electrocardiographic Monitoring for and when is it performed?

“Event Recorder” also called “loop recorder” allows to record the cardiac electrical activity coinciding with the symptoms felt by the patient and for a long period of time (weeks/months, up to true years for the implantable one). When the patient feels the symptoms he presses a button and the device will record the cardiac electrical activity (ecg) a few minutes before and a few minutes after the activation.
This device is therefore very useful in case of occasional symptoms and generally after having performed a standard cardiac Holter.

It is usually requested for the following reasons:

• Heart-pounding

• Arrhythmias

• Virgins

• Lipotime

• Syncope

• Channelopathies