Quantitative Assessment of Heart Rate Changes Due to Therapeutic Interventions

Continuous monitoring of electrophysiologic and hemodynamic disturbances in critically ill patients has significantly improved the physicians ability to assess responses to therapeutic interventions, such as the infusion of a drug, and non-therapeutic interventions, such as the exercise stress test. Quantitative assessment of heart rate changes for extended studies is not practical without a computer-based system. This paper describes a computerized continuous electrocardiographic interval (CEI) monitoring system for recording the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and the atrial electrogram (AEG) from patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction or experienced chest pain. Continuously monitoring physiological disturbances greatly improves the physician's ability to recognize problems early and assess responses to therapeutic interventions.