What type of monitoring is typically employed to identify intermittent arrhythmias?

Holter monitoring is specifically designed to identify intermittent arrhythmias that may not be captured during a standard 12-lead ECG, which typically provides a short snapshot of the heart's electrical activity. This type of monitoring involves wearing a portable device that continuously records the heart's rhythm for 24 to 48 hours, providing extensive data on how the heart functions over a longer period.

This extended monitoring period is essential for detecting transient arrhythmias, which can occur sporadically and might be missed during shorter assessments. The data collected can help in diagnosing conditions like atrial fibrillation or other types of arrhythmias that may not be present during a doctor's visit or single ECG.

In contrast, event monitoring is typically patient-activated and used primarily for recording arrhythmias during symptomatic episodes when the patient feels something unusual. Telemetry monitoring, often used in a hospital setting, provides continuous heart rate and rhythm information but may not be as practical for outpatient monitoring of intermittent arrhythmias. Transesophageal monitoring is usually reserved for specific procedural settings, such as evaluating the heart's atria rather than for identifying intermittent arrhythmias.

Therefore, Holter monitoring is the most appropriate choice for catching these brief episodes that may occur outside of a clinical