A resting ECG is performed while the patient is lying down. Leads are attached to the chest, arms and legs. Electrical impulses are recorded for several minutes.
An exercise ECG, also known as a stress test, involves exercise during the ECG. A patient may be on a treadmill or bicycle. This test can indicate whether exercise has an effect on the heart's conduction activity.
A patient may have to wear a holter monitor. The patient has leads attached to the chest and carries the monitor like a purse over a 24 to 48 hour period. The monitor measures electrical activity that occurs during a typical day. If the patient is asked to wear the monitor for a longer period of time, a transmission of the recording can be made to a specific site. This is called transtelephonic monitoring and is used for patients who have infrequently occurring arrhythmias.
Another noninvasive test frequently used is an echocardiogram. A transducer passed over the patient's chest uses ultrasound waves to form an image of the heart. It helps to visualize the chambers and their response to the electrical activity in the heart.
The heart's electrical activity can be mapped to detect the source of an arrhythmia by performing a procedure called an electrophysiology study. If a specific area is identified as the root of the arrhythmia, a technique called radio frequency catheter ablation may be used as therapy. Radio waves emitted from the tip of the heart catheter destroy the tissue that was responsible for the arrhythmia. The catheter is guided to the heart through a vein.
Treatment and patient education
Treating arrhythmias depends on its cause and point of origin in the heart. Sometimes treatment is not indicated.
Circumstances may dictate emergency treatment. For life-threatening arrhythmias, an electrical counter shock can quickly return the heart back to its regular rhythm. When cardioversion is performed, paddles apply a shock to the chest wall.
Medication therapy is generally indicated following cardioversion to prevent recurrence of the arrhythmia. Drugs are chosen to prevent possible side effects and interactions with other medications. It is important to understand how your medication works, when and how often it should be taken, and what its interaction can be when taken with other medications.
Previous Story
