Cardiac Diagnostic Tests

Holter & Event Monitoring assist in the evaluation and diagnosis of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Both monitors are worn on an outpatient basis. Either monitor must be ordered by a physician or Health Professional Affiliate (HPA). You will be scheduled for a 30 minute appointment.

Holter monitoring is done over 24 hours (and occasionally 48 hours). Monitor must be ordered by your doctor. The Holter monitor cannot be removed for 24 hours (the monitor is not waterproof), so it is important to note that you will not be able to shower or bathe until the recording period is over. The monitor itself is about the size of a large beeper and is worn with 5 wires & stickers. You will not have to press any buttons on the monitor, but you will be asked to keep a diary of activities and symptoms during the 24 hour period.

Event Monitoring is done over 3-30 days (depending on how long your doctor would like you to wear the monitor) and is designed to record an "event" when you are experiencing symptoms. The monitor can be removed daily to shower or bathe (you will be given extra stickers so that you can change them). The event monitor is about the size of a large beeper and is worn with 2 wires & stickers. This type of monitor requires you to press a button when you feel symptoms, and then transmit the recording over the telephone.

Once the report is read by a cardiologist (patients 15 and under will be read by a pediatric cardiologist from Yale) a copy will be sent directly to your doctor.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABP) assists in the diagnosis of clinical hypertension. The blood pressure monitor is worn for a 24 hour period.

The blood pressure monitor is about the size of a large cell phone (generally worn at the waist) and is connected with a hose to a full size blood pressure cuff on your arm. The monitor will automatically obtain and record your blood pressure every hour. You will be given a diary to record certain activities and symptoms experienced while wearing the monitor.

Loose fitting clothing is recommended. An ABP Monitor is ordered by a physician or Health Professional Affiliate (HPA).

Tilt Table Testing

The tilt-table test is a simple, inexpensive, and informative test that can help identify the causes of fainting. As its name implies, the tilt table test involves placing a patient on a table with a foot-support, then tilting the table upward. The tilt-table may start off in a horizontal position and be tilted by degrees to a completely vertical position. The patient's blood pressure, pulse, and symptoms are monitored throughout the tilt-table test.