1 From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, and from the U. S. Public Health Service Heart Control Program (Dr. Mazzarella is Medical Officer).
The general clinical concept of cardiac monitoring has been briefly defined. The need for its use in acute myocardial infarction has been cited, and a new approach to "off-line" electrocardiographic recording on magnetic tape with very rapid scanning and analysis has been described. Some observations related to clinical problems in myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, conduction defects, and cardiac pacing, have been illustrated. The benefits and limitations have been cited. "Off-line" systems complement but do not supplant current on-line alarm systems. This technique appears to be clinically useful both for inpatients and for ambulatory outpatients. The major indications for cardiac monitoring are arrhythmias, heart block, cardiac responses to a variety of stresses, diseases, and therapy, as well as some patients with unexplained symptoms.
© 1966 American Heart Association, Inc.
Off-Line Monitoring in Ischemic Heart Disease