Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Establishing a Smartphone Ambulatory ECG Service for Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Pre-Syncope and Palpitations

Version 1 : Received: 11 January 2021 / Approved: 18 January 2021 / Online: 18 January 2021 (10:37:33 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Reed, M.J.; Muir, A.; Cullen, J.; Murphy, R.; Pollard, V.; Zangana, G.; Krupej, S.; Askham, S.; Holdsworth, P.; Davies, L. Establishing a Smartphone Ambulatory ECG Service for Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Pre-Syncope and Palpitations. Medicina 2021, 57, 147. Reed, M.J.; Muir, A.; Cullen, J.; Murphy, R.; Pollard, V.; Zangana, G.; Krupej, S.; Askham, S.; Holdsworth, P.; Davies, L. Establishing a Smartphone Ambulatory ECG Service for Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Pre-Syncope and Palpitations. Medicina 2021, 57, 147.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The IPED study showed that a smartphone-based event recorder increased the number of patients in whom an ECG was captured during symptoms over five-fold to more than 55% at 90 days compared to standard care [1] and concluded that this safe, non-invasive and easy to use device should be considered part of on-going care to all patients presenting acutely with unexplained palpitations or pre-syncope. This study reports the process of establishing a smartphone palpitation and pre-syncope service. Materials and Methods: A clinical Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was devised, and funding was secured through a business case for the purchase of 40 AliveCor devices in the first instance. The clinic was launched on 22nd July 2019. Results: Between 22nd July 2019 and 31st October 2019, 68 patients seen in the ED with palpitations or pre-syncope were referred to SPACC. 30 were male and 38 female and mean age was 45.8 (SD 15.1) with a range from 18 to 80 years. 50 (74%) patients underwent full investigation. 7 (11%) patients were deemed on first assessment to have non-cardiac palpitations and were not fitted with the device. All patients who underwent full investigation achieved symptomatic rhythm correlation most with sinus rhythm, ventricular ectopics or bigeminy. A symptomatic cardiac dysrhythmia was detected in 6 (8.8%) patients. 3 patients had supraventricular tachycardia; SVT (4%), 2 had atrial fibrillation (3%) and 1 atrial flutter (2%). Qualitative feedback from the SPACC team suggested several areas where improvement to the clinic could be made. Conclusion: We believe a smartphone palpitation service based in ambulatory care is simple to implement and is effective at detecting cardiac dysrhythmia in ED palpitation patients.

Keywords

Emergency Department; Diagnosis; ECG monitoring; Cardiac dysrhythmias

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Immunology and Allergy

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