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Remote Monitoring of Left Ventricular Assist Device Parameters After HeartAssist ‐5 Implantation
Author(s) -
Pektok Erman,
Demirozu Zumrut Tuba,
Arat Nurcan,
Yildiz Omer,
Oklu Emine,
Eker Deniz,
Ece Ferah,
Ciftci Cavlan,
Yazicioglu Nuran,
Bayindir Osman,
Kucukaksu Deniz Suha
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/aor.12144
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricular assist device , thrombus , cardiology , ischemic cardiomyopathy , heart failure , continuous flow , stage (stratigraphy) , thrombosis , ejection fraction , paleontology , biology , physics , mechanics
Although several left ventricular assist devices ( LVADs ) have been used widely, remote monitoring of LVAD parameters has been available only recently. We present our remote monitoring experience with an axial‐flow LVAD ( H eart A ssist‐5, M icro M ed C ardiovascular, I nc., H ouston, TX , USA ). Five consecutive patients who were implanted a H eart A ssist‐5 LVAD because of end‐stage heart failure due to ischemic ( n = 4) or idiopathic ( n = 1) cardiomyopathy, and discharged from hospital between D ecember 2011 and J anuary 2013 were analyzed. The data (pump speed, pump flow, power consumption) obtained from clinical visits and remote monitoring were studied. During a median follow‐up of 253 (range: 80–394) days, fine tuning of LVAD s was performed at clinical visits. All patients are doing well and are in N ew Y ork H eart A ssociation Class‐ I / II . A total of 39 alarms were received from three patients. One patient was hospitalized for suspected thrombosis and was subjected to physical examinations as well as laboratory and echocardiographic evaluations; however, no evidence of thrombus washout or pump thrombus was found. The patient was treated conservatively. Remaining alarms were due to insufficient water intake and were resolved by increased water consumption at night and summer times, and fine tuning of pump speed. No alarms were received from the remaining two patients. We believe that remote monitoring is a useful technology for early detection and treatment of serious problems occurring out of hospital thereby improving patient care. Future developments may ease troubleshooting, provide more data from the patient and the pump, and eventually increase physician and patient satisfaction. Despite all potential clinical benefits, remote monitoring should be taken as a supplement to rather than a substitute for routine clinical visits for patient follow‐up.