Ambulatory Electrocardiography for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Although physicians have long appreciated the importance of specifically diagnosing arrhythmias, only in relatively recent years has the association of arrhythmias with various cardiac symptoms and conditions been well understood. These associations were iitiallymade by chance observation of arrhythmias on routine electrocardiograms, or rhythm strips obtained when the arrhythmias were frequent, sustained, or concomitant with severe symptoms. Continuous monitoring in intensive-care facilities further expanded knowledge of arrhythmias and their implications, particularly those occurring in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. Advances in technology now permit recording and analysis of arrhythmias occurring in ambulatory cardiac patients.During the past 15 years, . . .