Remote Electrocardiography

Abstract

Two hundred three electrocardiograms were sent by 27 patients without assistance over standard telephone lines by means of a small device capable of multiple electrocardiographic lead transmission and automatic switching. Five patients with infrequently occurring symptoms were shown not to have paroxysmal arrhythmia. One with atypical chest pain had S-T segment elevation in a single electrocardiographic lead with pain, thus confirming the diagnosis of "variant angina." Drug dosage and other therapy of non-life-threatening arrhythmia were facilitated in eight patients. There were neither clinical nor electrocardiographic events of note in 11 patients who had been hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and ventricular arrhythmia, in whom frequent remote ECGs were obtained during the month following hospital discharge. The value of remote electrocardiography during convalescence from acute myocardial infarction remains speculative. (<i>JAMA</i>230:1293-1294, 1974)