A new study describes the use of a novel ambulatory cardiac monitor to aid emergency department (ED) patients in avoiding unnecessary follow-up care.

Researchers at Scripps Memorial Hospital (La Jolla, CA, USA), Scott & White Memorial Hospital (Temple, TX, USA), and other institutions followed 285 patients who had presented to the ED with symptoms possibly related to arrhythmias, such as fainting, palpitations, and dizziness. The patients received the wire-free Zio Patch, a product of iRhythm Technologies (San Francisco, CA, USA), prior to being discharged, and were instructed to wear it until it no longer adhered to their skin – up to 14 days duration.

The devices were then mailed back to iRhythm Technologies using a prepaid postage envelope, for analysis and reporting of results to the patient's physician. The results showed that there was 100% compliance by patients, and that 59% of the symptomatic patients who presented to the emergency rooms did not have arrhythmia, and probably do not require any further work-up. The study was presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual scientific sessions, held during May 2012 in Boston (MA, USA).

“The patch is applied and when recording is done, the patient simply drops it in the envelope and returns it through the mail – it's like the Netflix of heart care,” said lead author and study presenter Steven Higgins, MD, chairman of the department of cardiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital. “Because they are infrequent, heart rhythm problems are often difficult to diagnose, even though they can be quite serious. The Zio Patch is a new digital advance that will allow us to better diagnose challenging cases so we can provide our patients the best care.”

The Zio Patch is a long-term cardiac rhythm monitor that provides continuous monitoring for up-to-14 days, significantly longer than the time period of a typical Holter device, thus improving the likelihood of capturing arrhythmias. It is indicated for use on patients who may be asymptomatic or who may suffer from transient symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, light-headedness, pre-syncope and syncope, shortness of breath, anxiety, and fatigue.

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