A Holter monitor is a small machine that records your child's heartbeat for a set period of time. Learn about how the test is performed and what your child can do while the Holter recording is in progress.
Key points
A Holter monitor is a small machine that records your child's heartbeat for a set period of time.
While they are wearing the monitor, your child should continue with normal everyday activities. They should not swim, bathe or shower.
A diary is provided with the monitor. Your child's activities, symptoms and medications should be recorded in the diary.
The monitor and diary should be returned to the hospital as soon as the recording period has ended. The data will be analyzed once the monitor has been returned.
Introduction
What is a Holter monitor?
A Holter monitor is a small machine that records your child's heartbeat. It is like an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the electrical activity of your child's heart. A Holter monitor does this for a prescribed period of time (24 hours, 48 hours, seven days or 14 days). It has an event button that you can push when your child is having symptoms.
Test
Putting on the Holter monitor
First, a health-care provider will use alcohol wipes to clean areas of your child's chest before applying electrode stickers. This helps to make sure the recording is clear. The electrodes stick to your child’s chest and are attached to the monitor with wires.
The technician will cover the electrodes with tape so they do not fall off. Your child will carry the monitor in a pocket or on a strap. The strap can go over the shoulder or around the waist.
Holter monitorA Holter monitor records your child's heartbeat for 24 hours. Children should continue all normal daily activities, except bathing, showering or swimming. Physical activity is recommended.
While your child is wearing the Holter monitor
While the monitor is on, your child should keep doing what they normally do. Your child should do some physical activity such as running or playing sports, unless they have been told not to by their cardiologist. Your child should not shower, swim or take a bath while wearing the monitor. The monitor cannot get wet.
Keeping a diary
You will be given a diary to write down what your child does all day. If you use the event button on the monitor, write the reason in the diary as well.
Using the event button
The event button on the monitor is used to mark events such as:
chest pain
feeling dizzy or fainting
shortness of breath
fast or abnormal heartbeat (palpitations)
taking heart medicine
If any of these things happen:
Push the event button on the monitor.
Check the time.
Write down what happened in the diary.
The event button marks the time of the event on the recording. When the health-care team looks at it later, they will know exactly when your child took medicine or had symptoms.
If your child has symptoms
Follow the instructions given to you by your child’s health-care team.
Important points to remember
Check the stickers occasionally to make sure they are firmly in position. If they are loose, press down around the edges.
Write down in the diary what your child does and any symptoms they have.
Push the event button when your child takes heart medicine or has symptoms.
Protect the monitor when your child is playing sports.
Do not let the monitor get wet.
After the test
You must bring the monitor back within 48 hours
When the recording period is finished, you can take off the stickers and the tape. You can throw the stickers and tape in the garbage. Make sure that all of the wires stay attached to the monitor. Do not take the batteries out of the monitor. Do not use scissors to try and remove the tape.
You must bring the monitor and the diary back within 48 hours of the end of the recording period. . When the monitor is put on your child, the cardiology team will provide you with instructions regarding how and when to return the monitor and diary.
Follow-up care
Getting the results of the Holter test
A cardiologist (heart specialist) will analyze the Holter recording and will send a report to the health-care provider who ordered the test. Your child's health-care provider will discuss the results with you.
At SickKids
At SickKids
At SickKids, please return your monitor to room 4A47 Monday - Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After hours and on the weekends please return the monitor to the locked Holter Monitor drop box located in the Atrium next to registration counter 5.
