The role of implantable hemodynamic monitors to manage heart failure.

Abstract

Heart failure is associated with high rates of hospitalization and rehospitalization, resulting in substantial clinical and economic burden. Current approaches to monitoring patients with heart failure have done little to reduce these high rates of heart failure hospitalization. Implantable hemodynamic monitors have been developed to remotely provide direct measurement of intracardiac and pulmonary artery pressures in ambulatory patients with heart failure. These devices have the potential to direct day-to-day management of patients with heart failure to reduce hospitalization rates. The use of a pulmonary artery pressure measurement system has been shown to reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization in patients with systolic and diastolic heart failure.