When symptoms occur only occasionally, intermittent recorders
or event recorders permit monitoring of rhythm abnormalities even
though the ECG recordings are brief. Patients activate these
recorders by pressing a switch at the time of specific symptoms.
When activated, 30-60 seconds of the ECG (heart rhythm and rate)
prior to patient activation are recorded in addition to 30 seconds
subsequent to the activation. This allows for accurate correlation
of symptoms with cardiac rhythm and rate.
