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Millions of physically active individuals worldwide use heart rate monitors (HRMs) to control their exercise intensity. In many cases, the HRM indicates an unusually high heart rate (HR) or even arrhythmias during training. Unfortunately, studies assessing the reliability of these devices to help control HR disturbances during exercise do not exist. We examined 142 regularly training endurance runners and cyclists, We detected a serious tachyarrhythmia in the HRM and Holter ECG data with concomitant clinical symptoms in only one athlete, who was forced to cease exercising.We conclude that the HRM is not a suitable tool for monitoring heart arrhythmias in athletes and propose an algorithm to exclude the suspicion of exercise-induced arrhythmia detected by HRMs in asymptomatic, physically active individuals. K E Y W O R D Scycling, exertion rhythm disorders, heart rate monitors, Holter electrocardiogram, long-distance running, strength training

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is a relatively new method of treating patients with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction after surgical repair of congenital heart disease. Since its introduction in 2000 by Bonhoeffer, more than ten thousand PPVI procedures have been performed worldwide. Indications for PPVI have been adapted from those accepted for surgical intervention. Two types of valves are being used: Melody Medtronic available in diameters 16 mm and 18 mm and the family of Edwards SAPIEN valves 23, 26 and 29. The procedure has been shown to be feasible and safe when performed in patients with full pulmonary conduit dysfunction and in selected cases of patched RVOT. The low complication rate and the reduced number of open-chest re-interventions over a patient’s lifetime are among the main advantages of the procedure. The most important problem responsible for late mortality and reinterventions is infective endocarditis. Size restrictions of the currently available valves limit deployment in the majority of patients with a wide RVOT. Newer devices are being developed to make these patients suitable for PPVI. A literature review, Polish experience and results of PPVI performed in 66 patients in the Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw are briefly reported.