Cardiac events monitoring

Cardiac events recorders have been developed in order to record the heart rhythm during symptoms such as palpitations or presyncope, to first make a diagnosis, and subsequently drive the treatment strategy. In other circumstances, they can be also used in asymptomatic patients (to record silent atrial fibrillation for instance). Because they are non-invasive, potentially cost-saving and relatively easy to use, the external rhythm recording devices have shown some great advances in the last years, spreading from photoplethysmographic technique to real ECG reconstruction. Technological advances in the field of microelectronics, as well as in the field of data transmission have contributed to their widespread use in cardiology. The trend for miniaturization was also expanded to the implantable recorders. This paper will review will review advantages and limitations of the different existing available well-established recording devices, as well as the last technological developments in terms of ECG recordings.     

高原驻守官兵体检心律失常心电图分析

目的了解高原驻守官兵心律失常的发生情况。方法对2090例高原驻守官兵作常规心电图检查。按心律失常发作的类型、驻守时间和驻守海拔高度进行统计分析。结果在2090例被检者中,心律失常发生率为19．81％,其中窦性心律不齐、窦性心动过缓、各种期前收缩占80．67％。海拔3000～3500m组心律失常发生率与海拔〉4000m组心律失常发生率差异有统计学意义,分别为15．00％、26．82％（P〈0．01）;驻训3—6个月组和〉1年组心律失常发生率差异无统计学意义,分别为20．49％、17．61％（P〉0．05）。结论高原驻守官兵心律失常的发生率较高,心电图表现多种多样,高原心律失常的发生原因与缺氧程度有关,而与缺氧的持续时间无明显关系。     

索他洛尔治疗心律失常的临床观察

通过探索不同剂量索他洛尔在门诊心律失常患者中的疗效、副作用和致心律失常作用,寻求索他洛尔治疗心律失常的合理剂量和安全性。选择门诊快速房性、室性心律失常患者 500例,男 276例、女 224例。均经 24h动态心电图检查,单形性室性早搏(简称室早)数≥2 000次(或≥100次 /h)或有成对室早、短阵室性心动过速及频发房性早搏、房性心动过速、心房扑动、心房颤动(简称房颤)。依次服用索他洛尔 40, 80, 120, 160mg/12h各两周,服药前及服药 3天后检查心电图测量QT、QTc间期、QTd。14天检查 24h动态心电图判定疗效。结果:索他洛尔对室性心律失常的总有效率 86. 8%,房性心律失常 59. 0%,对预防阵发性房颤发作效果较好(P<0. 05),而对持续性心房扑动、房颤以控制心室率较理想。对各种心率均有明显的减慢作用,第 2周末平均下降 13% ~20%,之后较为平稳,未继续下降。结论:索他洛尔最佳剂量 80~120mg/12h,副作用小,门诊应用较安全,起效时间 3 ~14天,持续用药可维持疗效,对房性及室性心律失常均有效。     

Cardiac event recorder yields more diagnoses than 24-hour Holter monitoring in patients with palpitations]

BACKGROUND: Palpitations are a common symptom that sometimes results from a substantial cardiac arrhythmia. A 24-hour Holter monitoring is usually used, but the yield of this instrument is low in patients whose symptoms occur infrequently. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield and the cost-effectiveness of transtelephonic event recorder (TER) with those of Holter monitoring in patients with intermittent palpitations. METHODS: Three hundred and ten patients with intermittent palpitations were allocated to the study and randomly assigned to receive a TER or 24-hour Holter monitoring. TER was given to patients until recording was obtained while symptoms occurred or was used at most for 7 days. At enrollment, a basal trace was recorded. Patients with palpitations recorded the one lead ECG trace and sent it by phone (fixed or mobile) to the telemedicine call center where a trained nurse compared the trace with the basal one and checked the patient's symptoms. The cardiologist reported "on-line" all the traces sent in the presence of an arrhythmic event and "stored and forwarded" all the other traces. Standard methods were used for Holter recording and reading. RESULTS: Patients with palpitations during the examination were 119 (76.8%) in the group of TER and 74 (47.8%) in the Holter group (p < 0.000) with an efficacy increase of 29% for TER. In symptomatic patients there were no differences between the two groups about the presence or absence of arrhythmias checked in the ECG traces; the time necessary to make a presence/absence diagnosis of arrhythmias was 2.97 +/- 2.74 days with the event recorder. The total cost of 155 tests made with Holter was altogether 9605.35 Euro (costs per test 61.97 Euro), while the one of TER was 6019.2 Euro (cost par test 38.83 Euro). The cost-effectiveness analysis was 129.80 Euro for Holter and 50.57 Euro for TER, with a saving of 79.23 Euro for every diagnosis made. CONCLUSIONS: TER allows to detect intermittent palpitations in real time; it is more useful and effective than Holter; moreover this effectiveness was also confirmed by the cost analysis in which TER resulted less expensive.     

V1检测电极在体表不同部位的起搏心电图形态研究

目的探讨V1检测电极的部位与起搏心电图形态的关系。方法选取植入永久性人工起搏器患者24例,将V1检测电极分别置于胸骨右缘第2、3、4、5肋间记录3导联同步心电图。分别测量V1QRS形态及时间。结果不同部位V1 QRS时间无明显差异（P〉0.05）。随着检测电极位置由胸骨右缘第5肋间移向第2肋间,V1R波电压逐渐增加,S波电压逐渐减小。电极位于胸骨右缘第5肋间者95.8％呈左束支传导阻滞型,位于胸骨右缘第3肋间者54.2％呈右束支传导阻滞型,位于胸骨右缘第2肋间者75．0％呈右束支传导阻滞型。胸骨右缘第4、5肋间以S型（QS、rS型）为主（95.8％）,胸骨右缘第2肋间R型（Rs型）为主（75．0％）,两者差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论调整V1检测电极的位置可快捷简便地判断心室起搏电极是否位于右心室,对判断有无心室电极穿孔有一定指导作用。     

经皮胸壁心脏起搏的临床应用价值

为探讨经皮胸壁心脏起搏紧急抢救心脏停搏的临床价值 ,对 30例心脏停搏患者于床边迅速粘贴经皮胸壁心脏起搏专用电极 ,应用美国惠普公司CodeMasterXL+ 心脏监护除颤起搏仪紧急起搏 ,其他复苏措施积极实施。结果 :起搏成功 2 1例 ,临床有效 16例 ,复苏成功 14例。达起搏成功所需时间为 1.6± 0 .4 (1.0～ 5 .0 )min ,持续稳定地起搏总时间为 80 .0± 32 .6 (8～ 12 0 )min ,有效起搏电流强度为 6 5± 12 .3(5 0～ 130 )mA ,有 7例过渡至X线下经静脉心内膜起搏。起搏成功的心电图表现为起搏心律且其QRS波于监护Ⅱ导联呈主波向下的综合波 ,融合波或 /和较快的自主心律。起搏电流强度大小并不影响对起搏成功的QRS波的判断。起搏过程中均有胸壁肌肉抽动 ,5例局部疼痛者仅 1例需用镇静剂 ,无其他并发症。结论 :经皮胸壁心脏起搏操作简便快速 ,疗效可靠且无创安全 ,病人耐受性良好 ,是紧急抢救心脏停搏行之有效的方法。     

恶性快速性室性心律失常致心脏骤停的临床观察

目的探讨恶性快速性室性心律失常致心脏骤停的原因与高危心电表现。方法分析45例在入院时或入院后至少发生1次心脏骤停患者的原因及其发作时与发作前后的常规12导联心电图或持续心电监视心电图形。结果45例恶性快速性心律失常致心脏骤停最常见的基本原因为冠心病急性或陈旧性心肌梗死,次为特发性及继发性巨大异常J波、扩张型心肌病;低钾血症是最常见的诱因;最常见的恶性快速性室性心律失常类型是心室颤动。其高危心电图表现:①复杂性室性早搏;②异常J波;③继发性长Q-T间期综合征;④Brugada综合征;⑤广泛前壁心肌梗死伴墓碑样ST段抬高。上述各种原因心脏骤停者有各自不同的临床及心电学特征。结论恶性快速性室性心律失常所致心脏骤停存在多种原因及高危心电图表现。     

远程实时心电监测仪与常规心电图在心血管疾病中的监测和对比分析

目的通过对远程实时心电监测仪进行性能测试和临床应用研究,旨在评价远程监测仪记录心电信号的准确性、安全性和有效性,并探讨其临床应用价值。方法人选2008年4月至2008年12月北京阜外心血管病医院194例住院患者。所有受试者均进行远程实时心电监测仪（心电手机）及常规12导联心电图监测,分为远程心电图组及常规心电图组。对两组进行心电图诊断及时间和幅度参数的比较。结果远程心电图组胸前导联的图形质量及基线稳定性相对优于肢体导联。经比较远程心电图组心律失常检出率高（P〈0．05）,共识别出心律失常266例,其中,快速心律失常135例,缓慢心律失常131例,最常见心律失常依次是室性早搏（18．7％）,一度房室阻滞（13．9％）及心房颤动（13．5％）。两组仪器所测得正常心电图组在心率、P波、PR间期、QRS时限、QT间期等参数间差异均无统计学意义,参数相关良好;V2、V3、V5及I导联进行P波振幅、QRS波振幅、QRS综合压代数和压差及T波振幅等参数之间比较差异无统计学意义。结论远程实时心电监测仪心电信号记录准确,能够检测出常见的心律失常及恶性室性心律失常,对心律失常的诊断符合率高,使用可靠、安全。     

Evaluation of Patients with Palpitations: Cardiac Event Recorder Versus 48‐hour Holter Monitoring

Objectives: (1) To compare a diagnostic yield of cardiac event recorders with that of 48‐hour Holler monitoring, (2) to determine the etiologies of palpitations, and (3) to assess an optimal duration of using an event recorder by a patient. Background: Palpitation is a common symptom which accounts for 16% of total complaints reported by patients in general medical settings. An ambulatory Holter ECG monitoring or an event recorder can be used to establish the cause of palpitations. Methods: (1)The study group consisted of 33 consecutive patients (24 females, 9 males, mean age 50 ± 32 years) with undiagnosed attacks of palpitations, occurring at least once per month. Each patient was randomly allocated to use either an event monitor or 48‐hour Holler monitoring. The patient kept the event monitor for 4 weeks. After the first monitor was returned, the patient was given the other device. Results: Holter monitoring determined the etiology of palpitations in 11 (33%) patients, and the event recorder in 21 (64%) patients (P = 0.0138). In the whole study group, the etiology of palpitations was disclosed in 23 (70%) patients. The diagnosis was possible using Holler ECG monitoring in only 2 (9%) patients, whereas the event recorder revealed the underlying mechanism of palpitations in 12 (52%) patients (P = 0.0007). In nine (39%) patients both methods were able to disclose the eliology of palpitations. The findings of 117 recordings obtained using an event recorder during palpitations were atrial fibrillation in 10 (9%), narrow QRS tachycardia in 4 (3%), frequent supraventricular eclopy in 17 (15%), frequent ventricular eclopy in 6 (5%), and episodes of palpitations sinus rhythm were recorded in the remaining 80 (68%). Of patients who experienced episodes of palpitations while using an event recorder, the earliest recording was obtained on the first day of the study, and the latest on the 18 day of using the event recorder. Conclusions: (1) The cardiac event recorders yield more diagnoses than 48‐hour Holter monitoring in patients with palpitations occurring at least once per month, (2) in this group of patients the event recorder provided a diagnostic ECG recording during the first 18 days of using the device, and (3) in the majority (57%) of patients a normal sinus rhythm was recorded during episodes of palpitations. A.N.E. 2000;5(4):315–321     

Improvements in atrial fibrillation detection for real-time monitoring

Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring plays an important role in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Automated real-time AF detection algorithm is an integral part of ECG monitoring during AF therapy. Before and after antiarrhythmic drug therapy and surgical procedures require ECG monitoring to ensure the success of AF therapy. This article reports our experience in developing a real-time AF monitoring algorithm and techniques to eliminate false-positive AF alarms. We start by designing an algorithm based on R-R intervals. This algorithm uses a Markov modeling approach to calculate an R-R Markov score. This score reflects the relative likelihood of observing a sequence of R-R intervals in AF episodes versus making the same observation outside AF episodes. Enhancement of the AF algorithm is achieved by adding atrial activity analysis. P-R interval variability and a P wave morphology similarity measure are used in addition to R-R Markov score in classification. A hysteresis counter is applied to eliminate short AF segments to reduce false AF alarms for better suitability in a monitoring environment. A large ambulatory Holter database (n = 633) was used for algorithm development and the publicly available MIT-BIH AF database (n = 23) was used for algorithm validation. This validation database allowed us to compare our algorithm performance with previously published algorithms. Although R-R irregularity is the main characteristic and strongest discriminator of AF rhythm, by adding atrial activity analysis and techniques to eliminate very short AF episodes, we have achieved 92% sensitivity and 97% positive predictive value in detecting AF episodes, and 93% sensitivity and 98% positive predictive value in quantifying AF segment duration.     

XP2351型双腔心脏起搏系统分析仪的研制

随着心脏起搏技术在我国的迅速发展,仅靠进口起搏系统分析仪已不能满足起搏技术临床应用的不同层次的需要。进口起搏系统分析仪价格昂贵,不适合于在中小医院使用,而且目前临床上使用的起搏系统分析仪存在不足之处:①对起搏器感知灵敏度的测量方法单一,通用性不强;②不能显示腔内及体表心电图,需借助心电图仪来测量起搏阈值。我们所研制的XP 2351型双腔心脏起搏系统分析仪具备如下特点;①基本功能齐全;②通用性强;③可测量显示腔内及体表起搏心电图;④可独自测量起搏阈值;⑤菜单显示,使用方便;⑥低功耗。     

Early application of an implantable loop recorder allows effective specific therapy in patients with recurrent suspected neurally mediated syncope.

AIMS: This prospective multicentre observational study assessed the efficacy of specific therapy based on implantable loop recorder (ILR) diagnostic observations in patients with recurrent suspected neurally mediated syncope (NMS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with three or more clinically severe syncopal episodes in the last 2 years without significant electrocardiographic and cardiac abnormalities were included. Orthostatic hypotension and carotid sinus syncope were excluded. After ILR implantation, patients were followed until the first documented syncope (Phase I). The ILR documentation of this episode determined the subsequent therapy and commenced Phase II follow-up. Among 392 patients, the 1-year recurrence rate of syncope during Phase I was 33%. One hundred and three patients had a documented episode and entered Phase II: 53 patients received specific therapy [47 a pacemaker because of asystole of a median 11.5 s duration and six anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy (catheter ablation: four, implantable defibrillator: one, anti-arrhythmic drug: one)] and the remaining 50 patients did not receive specific therapy. The 1-year recurrence rate in 53 patients assigned to a specific therapy was 10% (burden 0.07 +/- 0.2 episodes per patient/year) compared with 41% (burden 0.83 +/- 1.57 episodes per patient/year) in the patients without specific therapy (80% relative risk reduction for patients, P = 0.002, and 92% for burden, P = 0.002). The 1-year recurrence rate in patients with pacemakers was 5% (burden 0.05 +/- 0.15 episodes per patient/year). Severe trauma secondary to syncope relapse occurred in 2% and mild trauma in 4% of the patients. CONCLUSION: A strategy based on early diagnostic ILR application, with therapy delayed until documentation of syncope allows a safe, specific, and effective therapy in patients with NMS.     

急性心肌梗死患者合并心脏破裂的分析

目的:观察急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者发生心脏破裂的特点。方法:连续入选2004年1月至2006年2月收入我院心内科监护室(CCU)确诊为AMI患者共1324例,经超声心动图证实心脏破裂18例。结果:前壁梗死509例,下壁梗死528例,非ST段抬高心肌梗死287例。发生心脏破裂18例(1.36%),其中游离壁破裂9例,室间隔穿孔9例。13例发病72h内破裂,5例在发病4～7d破裂。男性8例(8/973,0.82%),女性10例(10/351,2.85%),女性明显高于男性(P=0.005)。发生心脏破裂患者年龄[(72.6±8.2)岁]明显高于无破裂者[(63.3±12.2)岁,P=0.000]。成功再灌注治疗者心脏破裂发生率(5/575,0.87%)明显少于无再灌注者(13/749,1.74%,P=0.041)。所有合并心脏破裂者全部死亡。前壁梗死合并心脏破裂的发生明显多于下壁和非ST段抬高心肌梗死(2.16%,1.32%,0%,P=0.041)。结论:AMI合并心脏破裂的发生率为1.36%,其预后极差。女性、高龄、前壁梗死患者易于发生心脏破裂。成功再灌注治疗减少心脏破裂的发生。     

全自动远程家庭监测系统在植入心律转复除颤器患者中的应用

目的 评价全自动远程家庭监测（HM）在植入心律转复除颤器（ICD）/心脏再同步治疗除颤器（CRT-D）患者中的应用.方法 随访23例植入了带有HM功能的ICD及CRT-D患者,分析HM所获得的日常信息和报警数据,观察其对系统相关事件、心律失常和心力衰竭（心衰）监测在内的临床相关事件的早期监测及临床干预的疗效.结果 对23例患者随访122～937（452.1±262.2）d,共接收报警信息1 991次,发现异常事件1 481次,其中96.4％是临床相关事件,1.5％为系统相关事件,无信息传输事件占2.1％.系统相关事件多为感知异常,其中发现左心室导线脱位1例.临床相关事件中心律失常报警事件占84.7％[室上性心律失常和心房颤动（房颤）事件较多],心衰报警事件占15.3％,以静息时心率升高及心脏再同步治疗心室起搏百分比降低为主.根据HM系统报警信息,电话联络患者65例次,优化参数11例次,指导调整药物治疗方案18例次,4例患者入院治疗.结论 对于植入ICD/CRT-D的患者,HM系统是一项必要的、安全可靠的远程监测方法,可以及时识别起搏系统相关异常、发现临床相关事件,可指导对患者进行早期临床干预,优化随访管理,提高患者生活质量.     

肝硬化门脉高压症患者心脏功能影响因素及其状况评价*

目的 研究肝硬化门脉高压症患者心脏功能状态,探讨其与肝功能的关系,并分析影响左心室舒张功能不全的相关危险因素。方法 我院消化科住院的肝硬化门脉高压症患者126例,其中 Child-Pugh A级76例、B级41例、C级9例,MELD分级≤9分64例和>9分62例。行心电图和超声心动图（包括脉搏波多普勒和组织多普勒成像）检测。采用回归分析影响舒张功能不全的相关因素。结果 在126例患者中,有1例（0.8%）被诊断为左心收缩功能不全,77例（61%）被诊断为左心室舒张功能不全,心电图异常率为65%,其中QTc延长发生率为41%;不同Child-Pugh分级和MELD评分患者左心室舒张功能不全、心电图异常率和QTc延长发生率差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;Logistic回归分析发现年龄（OR=1.163,95%CI：1.086~1.244）和心率（OR=1.106,95%CI：1.018~1.201）是影响舒张功能不全的相关危险因素。结论 肝硬化门脉高压症患者心功能改变主要以舒张功能减退和电生理异常为主,而与肝病严重程度和大量腹水并无显著相关性。对于年长和心率增快的肝硬化门脉高压症患者,要加强心脏舒张功能的评估,尽早诊断和及时干预可能能改善肝硬化患者的预后。     

Standardization of electrode placement for continuous patient monitoring: introduction of an assessment tool to compare proposed electrocardiogram lead configurations

Numerous modified electrocardiogram (ECG) lead configurations are used for continuous patient monitoring, and they often produce waveforms substantially different from the standard 12-lead ECG. Serial comparisons between modified and standard lead configurations can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy. To address this problem, an international Lead Summit was convened in June 2010 to discuss standardizing lead configurations for patient monitoring. The present article summarizes an invited presentation at the Lead Summit where the author proposed an assessment tool to compare the clinical utility of various lead configurations to provide a framework for ongoing and future discussions. The tool (0-20 points, with 20 being the perfect score) weighs 5 factors that are clinically important including equivalency to the standard ECG (6 points), patient comfort (4 points), noise immunity (4 points), noninterference with clinical interventions (3 points), and identifiable anatomical landmarks for accurate electrode placement (3 points). Because research is lacking for some of these factors (eg, patient comfort and noise immunity), studies conducted in patients in actual clinical environments are needed to reach consensus about ideal lead configurations for patient monitoring.