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How to Use a Holter Apparatus

A Holter apparatus is a portable medical device that measures and records the electrocardiogram of the heart. Patients who have changes in heart rate, have pacemakers installed or are on heart medication wear a Holter apparatus when a health care worker evaluates their heart function. Medical professionals collect patient data continuously for at least 24 hours so they can link daily activities to heart rhythm. Medical staff secures the Holter apparatus onto a patient at the beginning of the monitoring phase and removes it when the patient returns a day later.

Instructions

  1. Install the Holter Apparatus

    • 1

      Clean the patient's body of oil and dirt where you will attach the electrodes. Exfoliate all spots. Use a medical grade alcohol to do a second cleaning on the designated electrode areas.

    • 2

      Attach a disposable electrode to the lead wire on the Holter apparatus. Press the electrode onto a bony area of the patent's torso, such as the ribs, sternum or collarbone. Repeat this step for each of the four or five electrodes you use.

    • 3

      Tie a circular stress loop in the lead wire and cover it with tape. Repeat this step for each of the Holter electrodes.

    Test the Holter Apparatus

    • 4

      Remove the battery from the Holter recorder. Connect the download cable to the recorder and the Holter computer system. Click the "Holter" icon on the computer desktop to open the ECG program.

    • 5

      Click the "Enroll" icon, enter the patient's data into the program and click "Next."

    • 6

      Place a new battery into the Holter recorder and write down the time. The ECG is now recording.

    • 7

      Attach the isolation cable to the Holter recorder and the computer. Press the "F5" key and assess the ECG displayed on the computer screen.

    • 8

      Tap each electrode to check for interference on its corresponding ECG display. If there is interference, remove the electrode to clean it.

    • 9

      Unplug the isolation cable from the recorder. Show the patient how to use the diary feature and the event button.

    Download the ECG Results

    • 10

      Remove the battery and the ECG cable from the recorder after the medical assessment is finished. Plug the download cable into the recorder and then to the computer to download the ECG data.

    • 11

      Click the "New patient" icon on the computer screen, and check that all the important patient information is displayed.

    • 12

      Click the "Next" icon to analyze the ECG data.

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