[Contribution of long-term ECG monitoring in analysing cardiac arrhythmias (author's transl)].

Long-term analysis is one of the greatest advances in clinical cardiology within the last 15 years. With the introduction of computers exact quantification and qualification of arrhythmias, over long periods has become possible. Major indications for long-term ECG monitoring are detection of occult arrhythmias, evaluation of subjective symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or syncope, recognition of pacemaker dysfunction, identification of high-risk patients with coronary heart disease and evaluation, as well as monitoring of drug therapy.