Implantable Cardiovascular Sensors and Computers: Interventional Heart Failure Strategies

Abstract

Despite evidence-based medical and pharmacologic advances the management of heart failure remains challenging, whether in the ambulatory setting where daily weight monitoring has failed, or in the inpatient setting where readmission rates and morbidity remains high. There is an urgent need to develop strategies to reduce hospitalizations and readmission rates for heart failure in general. There may be a shift in the paradigm with respect to the treatment of heart failure, which may usher in an era of invasive heart failure therapies and specialists. Experimental invasive devices and monitors have the potential to be game-changing therapies, and cardiac resynchronization therapy has evolved beyond just resynchronization and has the potential to provide important real-time hemodynamic feedback.