Your Child's Heart Rhythm Monitoring
Your Child's Heart Rhythm Monitoring
The heartbeat is the strong, rhythmic pattern of heart squeezing to pump blood to the body and lungs. It’s controlled by electrical signals in the heart. The rate or pattern of the heartbeat is known as the heart rhythm. Abnormal heart rhythms are called arrhythmias. These can cause your child to have symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, low blood pressure, fainting, or fatigue. Rarely, arrhythmias can cause more serious problems. To help the doctor learn more about your child’s heart rhythm, tests can be done. These include:
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Electrocardiography (ECG). This test records electrical signals from your child’s heart onto a paper strip. The pattern of these signals can help the doctor tell whether your child’s heart is normal, under stress, or having electrical or rhythm problems. This test can also show problems with the pumping mechanism of the heart. The test lasts about 10 minutes.
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Holter monitoring. A Holter monitor is a portable device that records your child’s heart rhythm continuously for 24 to 48 hours. This device helps the doctor check for arrhythmias that occur frequently but randomly. It's a device you can wear away from the doctor's office. It continuously monitors the heart rhythm while it's being worn.
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Event monitoring. An event monitor is a portable device that records your child’s heart rhythm when symptoms occur. It’s generally used for periods up to a month. This device helps the doctor check for arrhythmias that occur randomly and infrequently. When symptoms occur, you can activate the button to record the heart rhythm at that moment which syncs up with the symptom with the heart rhythm is at that moment.
Your child’s experience: Electrocardiography (ECG)
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Before the test. Your child should wear loose, comfortable clothing for easy access to the chest.
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During the test. Your child lies still on an exam table. Electrodes (small sticky pads) are placed on your child’s chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes record your child’s heart rhythm and any changes in the heart signals that occur during the test. After several minutes of recording, the technologist removes the electrodes.
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After the test. Unless told not to, your child can return to his or her normal routine. The doctor may give you early results after the test. You’ll receive complete results when the ECG has been fully reviewed.
Your child’s experience: Holter monitoring or event monitoring
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Before the test. You may need to take your child to the hospital to receive the Holter or event monitor. Arrangements may also be made with an outside company to have someone deliver the monitor to your home and show you how to use it. With a Holter monitor, the electrodes are connected from the monitor to your child’s chest. The monitor is normally worn around the waist on a belt or over the shoulder in a bag. A mesh vest may be given to your child to wear under his or her clothes to protect the monitor from being damaged. With an event monitor, electrodes may or may not need to be connected to the chest. Your child may have one that is worn on the body like a Holter monitor, or one that he or she carries.
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During the test. Your child should continue with normal daily activities. You or your child will need to keep a written log of these activities. If your child has a Holter or event monitor that is worn on the body, don’t bathe your child with the monitor in place since the monitor may get wet. Also, avoid taking your child’s shirt off to prevent possible damage to the monitor. Remove the Holter or event monitor as instructed by your child’s doctor. An event monitor that is not worn on the body should be held against the chest when symptoms occur. A button is pressed to record your child’s heart rhythm for 1 minute. Always follow your doctor's directions to get the most accurate reading from the monitor.
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After the test. Return the Holter or event monitor when the test is complete. The heart rhythm recorded by the monitor and the activity log are then compared and analyzed. Your child’s doctor will follow up with you with complete results.
Updated:
January 29, 2020
Sources:
Chan, TC., Electrocardiographic Manifestations: Pediatric ECG, The Journal of Emergency Medicine (2008); 35(4); pp. 421-430
Reviewed By:
Steven Kang MD,Anne Clayton APRN,Lu Cunningham RN BSN