Cardiac Monitor

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in Canada. This deadly family of conditions includes high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction), Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), heart muscle disorders (cardiomyopathy) and stroke. For patients who are undergoing treatment for a cardiovascular condition, accurate monitoring is key given that even a tiny change to the heart’s rhythm can spell disaster.

When patients are hospitalized at the MUHC, cardiac monitors are used to continuously track and record the electrical activity of their heart. Electrodes are attached to the patient’s body and a bedside monitor provides a visual display of his or her vital signs. Any change is immediately visible to nurses and doctors, and at the first sign of a potentially dangerous rhythm, the monitor sounds an alarm.

The cardiac care specialists at the MUHC have a number of cardiac monitors in constant use, but more are needed to meet the growing demand for specialized cardiovascular care. These simple but critical tools, which cost around $25,000 each, can make the difference between life and death for the more than 20,000 cardiac patients who pass through the MUHC’s doors every year.

This series is intended to be informative. The McGill University Health Centre Foundation does not endorse any particular manufacturer or model of the equipment shown and described here.