Zio Cardiac Monitor - Tetbury Hospital Trust

The Zio® XT is an external, non-invasive ECG (electrocardiogram) monitor that records your heart activity for up to 14 days. It will monitor your heart rhythm during your normal day-to-day activity, including while you sleep, shower, and exercise, and records every single heartbeat for analysis.

It is typically used on patients who may be asymptomatic or who suffer from short-lived symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness, presyncope, syncope, fatigue, or anxiety. It is also suitable for any patient requiring ambulatory cardiac monitoring.

As the Zio® XT is an external, non-invasive ECG monitor there is no pain experienced and no recovery process from having it fitted.

Patient use

The Zio® XT cardiac monitor requires less than five minutes of topical skin preparation to ensure good contact between the device and the skin.

The patient presses the button on the Zio® XT whenever they experience symptoms during the wear time. A symptom is anything that you feel that is abnormal to your usual heartbeat. Some symptoms are typically felt as a flutter, a skipped beat, a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, or light headedness.

Do not shower within the first 24 hours of wearing your Zio® XT and avoid any activity that may cause you to sweat. After the initial 24 hours, avoid activities that cause excessive sweating since they may cause the monitor to slide, become loose, fall off, or shorten wear time.

Risks

Some patients have reported minor skin irritation and/or itching while wearing the Zio monitor. If the irritation or itching is severe or hives or blisters develop, please contact your consultant or GP.

During very hot weather or excessive exercise when the patient may perspire heavily, there is a risk of the Zio XT monitor falling off before the end of the prescribed wear time, but this poses no safety risk to patients.

Zio® Cardiac Monitor