FN Olomouc was the first in the Czech Republic to implant the latest ECG monitor in a man’s body

As the first in the Czech Republic, cardiologists at the Olomouc University Hospital implanted the latest miniature ECG recorder, which was presented for the first time at the cardiology congress in Berlin two weeks ago, into the body of a thirty-two-year-old man with heart problems. The device weighs four grams, measures approximately five millimeters in height and less than five centimeters in length. The ECG recorder continuously monitors and uses artificial intelligence to evaluate the activity of the man’s heart. Doctors believe that with its help they will find the cause of the patient’s health problems and then choose the appropriate treatment.

This was reported to ČTK by the head of the 1st internal clinic – cardiology FN Olomouc, Miloš Táborský,

“Our patient works as a bus driver and suffered a loss of consciousness several times, which is understandably very limiting and dangerous for his profession. He underwent a complete neurological examination, which ruled out epilepsy, stroke and other neurological causes. Neither ECG examination, echocardiography nor Holter ECG recording showed any abnormalities. So the cause of his trouble is still unclear,” stated the head of the 1st internal clinic – cardiology Miloš Táborský.

According to Táborský, placing a new ECG monitor in the human body is a very simple and quick procedure. The procedure takes about ten minutes, and after two hours of rest, the patient can go home. “When he leaves, we equip him with a home monitoring unit, a single-purpose mobile phone that sends data from the device to the hospital every day. All arrhythmias are transmitted and seen by the doctor and alerted by the system. And the system also eliminates false alarms for the doctor.” said Táborský.

The latest generation of miniature ECG recorder uses artificial intelligence to evaluate some clinical parameters, which, according to doctors, significantly increases the accuracy and reliability of measurement results. “The algorithm is programmed to minimize the display of false positive episodes, i.e. episodes that appear to be arrhythmias but are not. We expect the data provided to be completely accurate and clinically correct. We can then draw an appropriate medical conclusion based on the relevant data,” said doctor Marián Fedorco, who implanted the monitor into the young man’s body.

Based on the obtained data, cardiologists from Olomouc promise a significant shift in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of young patients. “We believe that in a matter of months we will find the cause of his syncopal states and be able to solve his treatment. It is highly likely that in his case these are infrequent episodes of heart rhythm disturbances,” Táborský added.