Event Monitoring......

What is it?

The Cardiac Event Monitor is used to detect abnormal heart rhythms. This small device records the heart’s electrical activity (rhythm) at the push of a button.  Patients trigger the device when they first begin to feel signs (an “event”) such as:

• Dizziness

• Weakness
• Lightheadedness
• Heart racing and/or fluttering

How does it work?

Cardiac event monitors have an event button that can be activated when you experience a cardiac symptom. When the event button
is pushed, the monitor records. It is able, by the use of “looping” memory, to record both before and after the button is pushed.  During the time you wear the monitor, you will maintain a diary of you symptoms and activities. You will relay the symptoms and activities you experienced with each recording at the time you transmit the recordings.

The cardiac event monitor continuously measures from your skin surface, via the electrodes, electrical activity generated by your
heart muscle. It stores a sample of your ECG onto non-volatile internal memory when you activate the recorded by pushing the
Record button. The monitor is connected to your chest using 2 adhesive electrodes. Lead-wires snap onto the electrodes and are attached to the monitor at the other end of the connector. The ECG data remains in the monitor’s memory until it is transmitted by telephone.

 What should I expect?

After a technician explains the test, your chest will be “prepped” for electrode placement. The electrodes measure the heart’s
electrical activity. The electrode placement areas may be shaved if needed. Then the area is cleaned with water or rubbing alcohol,
or a pumice solution designed for this purpose. Once the electrodes are in place, monitoring wires are attached to each electrode. 
The other ends of the lead wires are connected to a recording monitor.

 Once the monitor is in place the tech will explain how to:

• Trigger the monitor to record your heart rhythm

• Use the diary to record symptoms

• Change the electrodes and the monitor batteries

• Attach the monitor wires

• Who to call with questions

The tech will also show you how to transmit the monitor’s recording via the telephone. You will have time to practice this. The tech
will give you a supply of electrodes, monitor batteries, and written guidelines for transmitting via the telephone.