Ambulatory ST Segment Monitoring- Past and Future

Summary

Monitoring the ST segment of the electrocardiogram has become technically accurate with the introduction of frequency modulated recorders. The extended lower frequency enables accurate registration of ST segment changes without distortion. The recorders, however are fragile and failure rate is high. The clinical role of ambulatory ST segment monitoring is not in predicting coronary artery disease, but in identifying variant forms of angina either occuring alone or in combination with classical angina, estimating efficacy of treatment or its withdrawal and defining heart rate variations. The technique must be used in conjunction with other non-invasive methods of diagnosis such as exercise testing and if used in isolation may not yield its full potential.