Application of ambulatory impedance cardiography for analysis of ventricular extrasystole beats

Abstract

Seventeen adult patients were analysed during in-hospital evaluation before selection for antiarrhythmic or ablative therapy. A miniaturized, portable ICG device with a built-in one channel ECG was used as a detector of central hemodynamic signals. Heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV) and pre-ejection period (PEP) were obtained simultaneously by ICG and echocardiography in the supine position. Measurements were made in normal sinus beats and single, bigeminal or trigeminal VEB. Measurement of SV by ambulatory ICG and Doppler were significantly correlated in sinus beats and VEBs (r=0.93, p<0.001 and r=0.74, p<0.015, respectively). Thus, a portable impedance cardiography (ICG) device could be considered as a clinically acceptable and reproducible non-invasive method for assessment of SV and cardiac output in patients with idiopathic VEB. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.