[Ambulatory electrophysiological diagnosis of heart rhythm disorders]

A noninvasive method of electrophysiologic investigation (EPI) making use of programmed esophageal electrostimulation of the heart has been developed on the basis of EPI carried out in 2158 inpatients (including 1273 procedures involving esophageal electrostimulation of the heart). Its introduction in an outpatient cardiologic clinic in Kaunas made it possible to investigate 522 patients with heart rhythm disorders in 1985 alone. Effective antiarrhythmic therapy could be selected for 389 (74.5%) patients on an outpatient basis, while 133 (25.5%) patients had to be referred to hospital for more detailed EPI, implantation of an indwelling pacemaker or radical surgery. It is demonstrated that an adequate antiarrhythmic treatment can be selected on an outpatient basis.