Ambulatory ECG monitoring in atrial fibrillation management

Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Sep-Oct;56(2):143-52. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2013.10.001. Epub 2013 Oct 5.

Abstract

Ambulatory ECG monitoring technology has rapidly evolved over the last few decades and has been shown to identify life-threatening and non-life threatening arrhythmias and provide actionable data to guide clinical decision making. Atrial fibrillation episodes can often be asymptomatic, even after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, creating a disconnect between symptoms and actual arrhythmia burden which may alter clinical management. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of invasive and non-invasive ECG monitoring strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation, with a special focus on the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, and on follow-up of patients after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation ablation.

Keywords: AF; AT; Ambulatory; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial fibrillation ablation; CRT; Cardiac resynchronization therapy; ECG; ECG monitoring; ELEM; Event monitor; HF; Holter monitor; ICD; ILR; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator; Implanted loop recorder; MCOT; PM; Pacemaker; atrial fibrillation; atrial tachycardia; cardiac resynchronization therapy; electrocardiogram; event loop monitoring; heart failure; implantable cardioverter defibrillator; implanted loop recorder; implanted pacemaker; mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery
  • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy*
  • Catheter Ablation
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory* / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Recurrence
  • Sensitivity and Specificity