Implantable devices to monitor patients with heart failure

Heart Fail Rev. 2018 Nov;23(6):849-857. doi: 10.1007/s10741-018-9742-8.

Abstract

Reducing heart failure hospitalizations represents a major challenge for modern clinicians. Early detection of congestion plays a key role in disease management strategy. Apart from traditional methods (patient reporting symptoms, body weight monitoring), novel home-care strategies allow guided adjustments in medical therapy through telemonitoring embedded in cardiac electronic implantable devices or through stand-alone diagnostic devices for hemodynamic monitoring. Wireless pulmonary artery pressure monitoring seems to reduce re-admission risk and is currently approved for this purpose in patients with heart failure. Multiparameter monitoring is also appealing and could be a valuable tool in managing these patients. However, invasive techniques face several safety concerns and cost-effectiveness issues. Therefore, quest for future research and emerging technologies is necessary.

Keywords: Cardiac resynchronization therapy; Heart failure; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator; Implantable hemodynamic monitoring devices; Review; Telemonitoring.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology*
  • Hemodynamics / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation*
  • Telemedicine / instrumentation*