Author: Dr. Jacob Erel, Director of Nuclear Cardiology Uni & Coronary CT Service, Meir Medical Center, Israel
Publication date: October 2016
12-lead recording is needed for accurate programming of catheter ablation, for patients with supraventricular tachycardia. Same is for patients with premature beats, who may develop reduced heart function, where treatment may be even lifesaving. Accurate location of the origin of these beats is possible only by the 12 leads recording. Moreover, patients with frequent episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) may be relatively protected with ICD. Yet, if they require frequent shocks, they become candidates for ablation of the trigger, which requires 12-lead ECG.
12-lead recording was also used to measure QT dispersion, and correct definition of long QT, which are related to life-threatening arrhythmias. Premature beats morphology, as defined by 12-lead ECG, is related to severity of myocardial involvement. Follow up of patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, using 12-lead ECG monitoring may identify non-responders after cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Thus, continuous full 12-15-lead ECG monitoring is superior to standard 3 channel telemetry or Holter monitoring, and provides important diagnostic and prognostic information with major clinical impact.
