How Should Holter Monitoring Analysis Be Performed?

Abstract

As new anti-arrhythmic agents are developed their premarket testing has become an increasingly scientific and economic challenge. At present, there are two acceptable techniques for testing new anti-arrhythmic agents. One of these, acute testing with electrophysiologic measurements, offers substantial advantages because it allows the investigator to separate “benign” ventricular arrhythmias from those which are self-perpetuating and potentially result in ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. This technique will be discussed later in the symposium. The disadvantages of the electrophysiologic technique are its invasive nature and possibility that the results may not be representative of situations that the patient will encounter in normal life.