RELIABILITY OF A NEW DEVICE FOR THE TELEPHONE TRANSMISSION OF 12-LEADECGS

Background and objective: Different from the situation in the USA, Can ada, Israel, Italy and Great Britain transmission of electrocardiogram s (ECG) by telephone plays an unimportant part in Germany because exis ting technology is at best adequate for the diagnosis of arrhythmias. A new simple system, the size of a mobile phone (P12, Aerotel, Israel) , was tested: for the first time in Europle it allows patients themsel ves to obtain a 12-lead ECG and transmit it via any telephone to a cen tre for analysis. This system was evaluated for its reliability when u sed by lay persons. Patients and methods: Qualitative and quantitative parameters of a conventional 12-lead ECG obtained in 217 patients (86 women, 131 men) were compared with those of 12-lead ECGs recorded and stored by lay persons, transmitted via telephone to a computer and th en printed out. Results: All ECGs transmitted with the P12 were analys able: quality was good or very good in 86%. Heart rate, transmission t ime and the various durations agreed with the conventional leads, whil e P12 underregistered amplitudes by about 15%. This difference was cor rectable by a constant or by adjusting the ECG machine. Atrial fibrill ation (in eight of eight cases), infarct changes (40 of 40), ST elevat ions or depressions (15 of 15) and T negativities (80 of 82) were also reliably recognized. Conclusions: The described method proved simple and reliable. Clinically significant information in the ECG can be tra nsmitted within minutes and with high diagnostic reliability to a cent ral station via any telephone. P12 is thus suitable for selfrecording of ECGs by patients with potentially dangerous cardiac conditions. How ever a centre with cardiologically trained personnel should be availab le where telephone transmission of the ECGs and dialogue with the pati ents is possible around the clock.