An automated computerized system for continuous ambulatory pulmonary artery pressure monitoring

To investigate the nature of diurnal and noctural variations of the pulmonary artery pressure, the authors developed an automated analysis system for continuous ambulatory monitoring of the electrocardiographic and pulmonary artery pressure signals. Using the standard Holter technique, the recorded signals are reproduced at 128 times the original recording speed and acquired by a personal computer. An offline program then automatically identifies and executes morphological classification of all recorded heart beats. Heart rate, ST depression, systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressure are then computed on each identified beat, and averaged values of each minute are stored for trend analysis purposes. A subsequent procedure displays ST level, heart rate, and pulmonary artery pressure trends, allowing access to single beat values and waveforms. This system facilitates the assessment of electrocardiographic and pulmonary artery pressure responses of ambulatory patients during daily life