Enhancing the Cardiac Diagnostic Yield through Rate, Rhythm, QRS Morphology, & P-Wave Analysis

Matching Technology to the Patient’s Needs
Author: Tina Flowers
Position: Nursing/Office Manager
Hospital/Institution: Edward W. Leahey, M.D., P.A., F.A.C.C

CardioPAL™ SAVI Case Study


Profile
Female patient, 29 years of age, 28 weeks pregnant presented with complaints of an irregular heart beat described as, “racing on and off” throughout the past few months. “It usually happens everyday and lasts for just a few seconds, and then subsides spontaneously,” was the description of symptoms the patient provided to the clinical practice.

Past Medical History: Unremarkable except for asthma for a short time period
Past Surgical History: Laparoscopy for endometriosis
Family History: Positive for CAD, hypertension, and diabetes
Social History: Patient does not smoke, does not drink
Allergies: No known drug allergies
Medications: Vitamins

Physical Examination Diagnostic Results
Vital Signs Blood Pressure: 100/80
Weight 153 lbs
Head and Neck No JVD with a mild thyroid enlargement
Lungs Clear to auscultation
Heart Regular Rhythm with mild systolic murmur
Abdomen Soft, no tenderness
Extremeties Peripheral pulses are palpable
12-Lead EKG Revealed normal sinus rhythm with no acute ST-T changes, with possible mild LVH and mild left atrial enlargement
24-hr Holter Revealed a few PACs

 

Indication

Assessment & Plan

Due to the inconclusive results from the 24-hour Holter and the 12-lead EKG, and in consideration of both the high-risk pregnancy and the underlying diagnostic dilemma, an order was placed for an Echocardiogram and a cardiac Event monitor. A CardioPAL SAVI™ 30-Day transtelephonic Event monitor with auto-capture technology from ReactDx, Inc. (Melbourne, FL) was prescribed. The patient was further instructed to discontinue all medications during the testing period. The physicians committed to follow up with the results, and instructed the patient to follow up with her Gynecologist for her pregnancy and possibly consider a thyroid hormone check.

Results

Over the 30-day period, the patient manually activated and transmitted on 43 separate occasions, identifying symptoms of chest tightness, dizziness, irregular heart beats, and occasional shortness of breath. The diagnostic results showed NSR, Sinus Tachycardia with Ventricular Ectopy, and frequent PVCs.

On thirteen separate occasions, the CardioPAL SAVI™ auto-captured an asymptomatic event. All auto-captures were determined to be clinically significant as they displayed Ventricular Ectopy, SVPBs, SV Couplets and Triplets, as well as PVCs. One of these recordings satisfied our physician’s pre-specified notification criteria.

NSR, Sinus Tachycardia, VE Run vs. Aberrant Conduction (six-beat run), one episode of Aberrant Conduction (eight-beat run), and one episode of a VE Run (nine-beat run), as illustrated below:

The results of the 30-day Cardiac Event monitor provided clinical justification to proceed to the next step, which included performing an MRI (without contrast). The MRI showed evidence of inflammatory signal seen within the anterior septum and anterior wall of the myocardium, possibly indicating underlying myocarditis.

Following the initial 30-day testing period, our physician retained ReactDx’s monitoring services for an additional 30-day period as a precautionary measure, keeping the safety of both patient and baby in mind. Once again, an auto-capture that satisfied our notification criteria was identified, and the patient was transported to the local Medical Center.

VE (six-beat run) vs. (Rapid) QRS Conduction Change as illustrated below:

Clinical Practice Commentary

We have utilized other manufacturers’ monitors in the past and did not experience the diagnostic success or patient compliance that we desired. ReactDx’s latest auto-capture technology (SAVI) provided our clinical practice a beat-to-beat surveillance of Rate, Rhythm, QRS Morphology, and P-wave abnormalities. The underlying foundation for the four pillars of analysis is made possible by capitalizing on the same operating system as found in their intelligent Holter monitor. In fact, our physician refers to ReactDx’s CardioPAL technology as “a 30-day Holter that only keeps the relevant information”.

In our opinion, had we selected an event technology that relies strictly on manual activation, or one that does not independently and concurrently evaluate Rate, Rhythm, QRS Morphology and P-Wave Analysis, significant asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities would have been missed.

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Jodi is a seasoned Human Resources professional who thrives on change and transformation. She fell in love with Human Resources when she attended Penn State University for graduate school in Public Administration with a curriculum that emphasized Human Resources. After earning her Master’s degree she began her career in the manufacturing industry in Talent Acquisition and was eventually assigned the overall HR Management responsibility of three divisions which included collective bargaining. Ultimately, she made her way to transitioning a new division of a Fortune 100 company under the corporate model as well as developing and executing Human Resources policies and procedures across a broad range of functional disciplines. At the next juncture of her career, she was tapped on the shoulder by former Executives that she previously worked with to join in on an exciting start-up. Today, Jodi is the Vice President of Talent Relations and Development for Medicomp Inc dba ReactDx and is responsible for managing the strategic Human Resources function which includes mergers and acquisitions for this rapidly expanding company.

Jodi and her husband enjoy landscaping, finding new restaurants and traveling whenever life gives them the opportunity.

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