Heart Rhythm By Hiren Kevadiya

ELR

External Loop Recorder (Event Recorder)

ELR is a portable device that measures and records heart beats continuously for 30 days. The device is the size of a pocket. The ELR and other devices that record your heart beats (ECG) as you go about your daily activities are called ambulatory electrocardiograms.

Why do I need ELR?

Regular electrocardiograms (ECG) record heart’s activity at one point of time during your ECG test. Holter monitor can record heart beats for 24-48 hours. But abnormal heart rhythms and cardiac symptoms may occur at any time. That’s why your doctor may want to evaluate your heartbeat over time while you go about your normal activities.

ELR is required for evaluation of fainting / syncope.
ELR is advised to see slow, fast or irregular heartbeat problem
ELR may be used to see how well your medicines are working to treat heart rhythm problems.
If you have a pacemaker and feel dizzy, ELR may be used to find out if your pacemaker is working properly.
To assess risk for future heart rhythm problems in certain conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscles), after a heart attack that caused reduced pumping of the heart, or WPW syndrome (where an abnormal electrical connection exists within the heart)
Results of ELR will help to decide if you need more tests or medicines for heart rhythm problems.

What are the risks of ELR?

Wearing an ELR has no risks and causes no pain.

What should I expect with the ELR?

A specially trained technician will attach the ELR and instruct you how to record your symptoms while wearing it.

The technician attaches the electrodes to your chest.
The technician helps you put the ELR on and explains how to take care of it.
You can carry the ELR in a pocket or pouch or attach it to your waist.
Do your usual activities while you wear the ELR.
The technician will show you how to keep a diary of your activities and symptoms during the test. It’s important to keep an accurate diary.
If you feel symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats or dizziness, note in your diary the time of day they began and what you were doing.
Your diary will be compared to the changes in your ECG recorded by the ELR.

What happens after wearing an ELR?

After the ELR monitoring period, return the ELR to the technician. Technician will process the record of your heart activity and prepare a report for your doctor. This will include the notes in your diary. You should get the results of the test in one or two days.

What about use of electrical appliances after wearing ELR?

ELR is usually not affected by other electrical appliances. But avoid metal detectors, magnets, microwave ovens while wearing ELR because these devices can interrupt the signal from the electrodes to the Holter monitor. Keep your cell phones at least 6 inches from the monitor for the same reason.

Why is an ELR more effective than other monitoring tests like ECG or Holter?

ECG monitors the heart rhythm for few seconds. It can detect arrhythmias that occur in those few seconds. Holter monitors the heart rhythm for 24-48 hours. It can detect arrhythmias that occur in those 24-48 hours. But there are patients with infrequent and short-duration symptoms, recurring over days, and these are unlikely to be diagnosed by the conventional ECG or Holter monitoring. An ELR has the capability to monitor heart rhythm for 7 to 30 days and hence, has a higher chance of providing a diagnosis to patients whose symptoms occur infrequently.

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