Holter Monitor Recorder Patient Instructions

• Your physician has ordered an ambulatory Holter Monitor Recorder to evaluate your heart rate and rhythm.
• This device provides a continuous ECG recording for 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours).
• Continue to participate in all your regular activities, unless your physician tells you not to.
• Your skin will be cleaned, prepped and may be shaved at the electrode placement sites.
• Five or seven electrodes will be attached to your chest and connected by wires to a Recorder. Do not remove them until the recording period is over.
• You should not get the electrodes, wires or Recorder wet, so full baths and showers are not allowed.
• Do not attempt to open the Recorder to tamper with it in any way.
• When the Recorder is returned, your physician will review the recorded data and provide a report for your chart.

Your physician needs to know if you have any symptoms or problems during the test period.

If symptoms occur, press the event button on the monitor to mark the time and use the patient diary to note the type of symptom, what you were doing at the time, date and exact time on the recorder.

Symptomatic events

Symptomatic events include, but are not limited to:

• Rapid heart rates
• Palpitations, pounding, fluttering or irregular rhythms
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision or headache
• Fainting, nearly fainting, falling, loss of balance
• Chest pain, tightness, squeezing and/or jaw, back or arm pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden sweating or clamminess
• Any event that requires you to immediately take nitroglycerin or other heart medications. Please note how well the medications work to relieve your symptoms
• Any feeling of an implanted device delivering therapy
• Any other symptomatic events your physician has asked you to document

Activity entries

When your physician looks at the recorded ECG information, it is helpful to know if and when you are taking part in any activity that could cause irregular heart rhythms. These include:

• Taking medications
• Exercise for a length of time
• Physical labor
• Office work
• Light household chores
• Bowel movements
• Sleeping
• Eating
• Drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages

You do not need to provide a minute-by-minute account of activities; it's okay to list a time range for activities.

If you are instructed to remove the Recorder at home:

• Peel off the electrodes and discard them.
• Return the pouch, Holter Monitor Recorder, cable and wires, all tapes and patient diaries. Please use the plastic bag you received along with the Recorder.
  1. You may drop off the recorder at Heart and Vascular Institute reception (2nd floor) from Sunday to Thursday between 8:00AM5:00PM.
  2. You may also send it through your preferred courier services using the address below: Cleveland Clinic Abu DhabiHeart and Vascular Institute, 2nd-floor clinic reception,Al Maryah, Abu Dhabi, UAEP.O. Box 112412

If you need help returning the Holter Monitor Recorder, please call the Cardiodiagnostics (EKG Technicians) at 800 8 2223, ext. 64367.