Today our topic of discussion is Holter Monitoring of Medical Surgical Procedures.
Holter Monitoring of Medical Surgical Procedures
HOLTER MONITORING
Holter monitoring permits the recording of cardiac electric activity over time (usually 24 hours) on a cassette tape recorder. It allows the client to perform normal daily activities can be determined. When the client wears a portable holter monitor, an ECG tracing may be recorded continuously over a period of a day or longer on an out- patient basis.
Holter monitoring (ambulatory electrocardiography) evaluates the client’s heart rate and rhythm during normal daily activities, rest, and sleep over 24 hours (occasionally 48 hours). The holter monitor consists of a continuous
electrocardiogram recording on a cassette tape that is boxed inside. After 24 hours, the monitor with the tape is returned to the cardiac center and is scanned or reviewed for abnormal findings such as cardiac dysrhythmia.
Normal Findings
No abnormal electrocardiography findings.
Definition
Holter is monitoring or 24 hours ambulatory monitoring provides a record of client’s heart rate and rhythm over a period of 24-48 hours while the client is engaged in the activities of daily livin
Purpose
- To identify and record cardiac arrhythmias associated with normal daily activities, which cannot be detected by routine ECG
- To correlate these arrhythmias with symptoms such as syncope, palpitation, chest pain.
- Light headedness or dyspnea as described by the client
- To assess the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic or anginal drug
- To evaluate the functioning of the artificial pacemaker suspected of malfunctioning
- To detect ST segment alterations during exertion in clients with obscure chest pain.
Findings
- Conduction disturbance
- Dysrhythmia.
Client Preparation
- Inform client regarding the purpose of the holder monitoring and the vital role he or she plays in obtaining the needed informatio
- Check the holter monitor’s indicator light to determine if the battery is functioning
- The client is instructed to keep a dairy of activities and is taught how to trigger the event marker Shave the site if the chest is hairy to apply electrodes to the chest .
- Have the client demonstrate triggering the event marker.
- The client will push the marker whenever pain or other symptoms occur .
- Give the client a writing pad to record activities during the test time.
Components
- Recording apparatus: This is like a small transistor radio that can be carried over the. shoulder or connected to a waist belt. This will contain a blank tape on which the heart rhythm is recorded for 24 hours.
- Client’s dairy: The client recordings all activities and any unusual symptoms experienced with time.
- Holter monitor scanner: It is a computer system which can scan 24 hours tape in 12-15 minutes for any arrhythmia.