Degree Of Patient Satisfaction Research Articles

Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty: Long-Term Follow-Up of High G' HA Nasal Injections.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most requested aesthetic procedures performed by plastic surgeons world-wide and nonsurgical rhinoplasty is becoming the gold standard in aesthetic nasal treatment. Follow-up clinical examinations were performed on all 107 patients, being a safe and predictable technique with a high degree of satisfaction for the patients. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty using hyaluronic acid is an effective, fast, and safe nasal reshaping procedure with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Generally, due to the gradual reabsorption of the filler, the results last up to 8 to 12 months after treatment, making it a valid minimally invasive alternative to surgical rhinoplasty. Consequently, to maintain the effects it is necessary to repeat the treatment once a year.

Prospective cohort study of topical versus general anaesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy

BackgroundTopical anaesthesia (TA) and general anaesthesia (GA) are performed for flexible bronchoscopy (FB) worldwide. However, few studies have compared the two anaesthesia methods in terms of perioperative discomforts.Methods648 patients undergoing...

Prospective cohort study of topical versus general anaesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy.

Topical anaesthesia (TA) and general anaesthesia (GA) are performed for flexible bronchoscopy (FB) worldwide. However, few studies have compared the two anaesthesia methods in terms of perioperative discomforts. 648 patients undergoing FB were recruited in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, a specialised medical centre in China, from January 2019 to December 2019. The patients underwent FB under TA or GA. The TA group received 1% lidocaine by nasal route, and the GA group received total intravenous anaesthesia. The level of perioperative discomfort and patient satisfaction were assessed. The investigators were blind to the group allocation. Finally, 239 patients received TA and 182 patients received GA. The basic demographic properties were comparable between two groups. There were no significant differences in terms of sore throat, 61.5% in TA group vs 57.1% in GA group. However, there was a significant difference in terms of postoperative nausea and vomiting (34.3% in TA group vs 56.6% in GA group), and dizziness (37.7% in TA group vs 78% in GA group). There was a significant difference in terms of total complication scores (17.2 ± 5.1 in TA group vs 7.7 ± 4.3 in GA group) and satisfaction degree of patients (2.6 ± 1.1 in TA group vs 4.3 ± 0.8 in GA group). Compared with TA, GA significantly reduced the total complication scores of perioperative discomforts and improved the satisfaction score of patients for FB. This clinical trial was registered with www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1800019971).

The Quality of Life and Satisfaction After Orthognathic Surgery in Saudi Arabia

Orthognathic surgery is used to treat dental issues such as misaligned jaws and teeth and skeletal abnormalities related to them. It is often recommended when there are significant dentofacial abnormalities that cannot be corrected by orthodontic therapy alone, particularly in adults when the natural growth pressures have stopped. This research aimed to assess the health-related QoL and degree of patient satisfaction among Saudi Arabian patients having orthognathic surgery. The null hypothesis w

Value of Music and Nitrous Oxide for Pain Control during Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).

To compare the efficacy of 4 different analgesic regimens that include music and nitrous oxide during the treatment of renal lithiasis with ambulatory extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). A single-centre, longitudinal, prospective, randomized, open and parallel group study was conducted. Patients with renal lithiasis were included and were randomized to Group A (basal analgesia: midazolam (1 mg), fentanyl (0.05 mg) and dexketoprofen (50 mg)), Group B (basal analgesia and nitrous oxide), Group C (basal analgesia and music) and Group D (basal analgesia, nitrous oxide and music). For the measurement of pain, a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 100 (maximum pain imaginable) was used. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a Likert questionnaire. The epidemiological data of the patients in terms of lithiasis, previous clinical and ESWL sessions, and pain measured with the VAS before, during (maximum) at the end of the session and at discharge were recorded. Data on complications were also collected, as was the patients' subjective evaluation of the treatment and their satisfaction. The ESWL procedure was performed with a Storz Modulith SLX-F2® lithotripter. A maximum of 4000 waves were applied at a frequency of 1.5 Hz. Eighty patients were included (20 per group). None of the analgesia guidelines proved to be superior to the others for pain control during the ESWL session. Patients younger than 50 years had significantly higher values for the maximum VAS. Only 13.75% of patients required rescue analgesia. A total of 77.5% described their experience as good, very good or excellent, regardless of the assigned group. The addition of nitrous oxide and/or music did not result in a statistically significant improvement over the basal analgesia regimen of midazolam, fentanyl and dexketoprofen; however, the degree of patient satisfaction was very high.

EVALUATION OF THE PATIENTS' SATISFACTION WITH PRIVATE DENTAL CLINICS SERVICES: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED STUDY.

The aim: To evaluate patient satisfaction with dental care services at Iraqi private dental units. Materials and methods: Online questionnaires were sent to 1600 Iraqi people. The questionnaires were composed of four sections: the first section was involved with gathering the demographic information of the participants, and the remaining three sections consisted of twenty-one questions to evaluate the responders' satisfaction with regard to the dentist, treatment, and the dental clinic. Results: The final total of responses was 427 after using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The distribution of the participants according to the obtained demographic data was as follows: (male 45.4% and female 54.6%), (above 40y 41.7% and less or equal to 40y 58.3%), (employed 52.9% and not employed 47.1%), (postgraduate 29.3%, college graduate 55.7%, and undergraduate 15%), and (enough and exceeding income 4.9%, enough income 51.8%, and less than enough income 43.3%). Only the educational level and the income level appeared to have an effect on the degree of patient satisfaction. Most of the participants complained about the high treatment fees and the long wait in the clinic before receiving treatment. Conclusions: The current study is the first conducted in Iraq to assess dental patient satisfaction. The satisfaction levels differed among the participants, which indicates the need to benefit from the evaluation of patients to improve the quality of treatment service in dental clinics. Future research should be conducted to precisely identify the factors that lead to increased satisfaction of dental patients with their treatment experiences.

Effect of Predictive Nursing Intervention on the Gastrointestinal Side Effects of I-131 Re-treatment in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC)

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of predictive nursing intervention on the gastrointestinal side effects of I-131 re-treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods: From January 2017 to August 2018, we invited patient with DTC who received I-131 re-treatment to enroll in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to control or predictive nursing intervention groups using a random number table. The primary outcomes were the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and degree of patient satisfaction with respect to nursing. Patients in the intervention group received predictive nursing intervention, and patients in the control group received common nursing intervention. Result: A total of 69 patients were enrolled in the study. In patient characteristic, the gender, age and disease status were no significantly different for the participants in two groups. In addition, intervention group participants had less gastrointestinal side effect events, including nausea, vomiting and anorexia (10 vs 3, 8 vs 1, 12 vs 2). In nursing satisfaction assessment, intervention group participants provided better outcome in nursing satisfaction assessment compared with control group, that they provided most very satisfied assessment to predictive nursing intervention. Conclusion: Predictive nursing helped decrease the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and improved patient satisfaction with nursing. Predictive nursing may be effective in DTC patients receiving I-131 re-treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Remimazolam Tosilate versus Propofol for General Anesthesia in Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Variceal Ligation.

IntroductionThe best candidate intravenous anesthetic agent for patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) remains unclear. Remimazolam tosilate (RT) is a new type of benzodiazepine with quick onset, rapid recovery, and no accumulation. Here, we investigated the efficacy and safety of RT for general anesthesia in cirrhotic patients undergoing EVL.MethodsPatients undergoing EVL were randomly classified into the remimazolam tosilate (group R) and the propofol group (group P). RT was administered as a slow bolus of 0.2 mg/kg for induction and followed by 1.0–2.0 mg/kg/h for maintenance of general anesthesia. Propofol was started at 2 mg/kg, followed by 4–10 mg/kg/h until the end of surgery. Flumazenil was routinely administered to group R and the same volume of saline was given to group P immediately after surgery. The efficacy and safety of RT for general anesthesia during EVL were compared with propofol.ResultsAll patients in the two groups had satisfactory anesthetic effects and the efficacy rates were 100%. The time to loss of consciousness (LoC) was longer in group R than in group P (P > 0.05). The return of consciousness (RoC) time, extubation time, and transfer time in group R were significantly shorter than that in group P (P < 0.05). The incidence of intraoperative hypotension and postoperative low SpO2 in group R were lower than that in the group P (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the satisfaction degree of patients and operators (P > 0.05).ConclusionRemimazolam tosilate can provide satisfactory anesthetic effects for surgery. Group R patients recovered faster and had a shorter PACU stay time than group P patients. Moreover, RT decreased the incidence of hypotension and low SpO2. RT was a safer and more effective alternative for general anesthesia in cirrhotic patients undergoing EVL than propofol.

Patient Satisfaction, Recommendation Rate, and Patient Comfort With an FDA-Cleared Cryolipolysis System.

BackgroundCryolipolysis is a non-surgical procedure for subcutaneous fat layer reduction by controlled cooling. During the past few years, the use of cryolipolysis for non-invasive body contouring has increased significantly.ObjectivesThis retrospective study examines patient satisfaction, recommendation rate and patient comfort with the use of an FDA-cleared system (CoolSculpting Elite, Allergan Aesthetics, AbbVie Company, Irvine CA) for cryolipolysis at a single clinic and reports on the results.MethodsBetween December 2020 and January 2022, 91 patients were treated with an FDA-cleared cryolipolysis system. To assess patient satisfaction, patients were asked to complete clinical questionnaires three months after their last treatment session. The following questions were asked: painfulness of the treatment, complications, satisfaction with the treatment, consideration of further treatment sessions, and willingness to further recommend the treatment.ResultsEighty-four percent of the 91 patients were female, and 16% were male. The average age was 45.5 years and the mean BMI was 26 kg/m2. Patients rated the treatment in terms of pain and discomfort experienced during the procedures on a scale of 1 to 5, with the value 1 representing not painful and 5 as extremely painful. 40% of the patients evaluated the procedure with 1, 38% with 2, 19% with 3, 1% with 4 and 2% with 5. With respect to satisfaction rates, 66% rated the treatment on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1, 18% with 2, 7% with 3, 7% with 4 and 3% with 5, with 1 indicating very satisfied and 5 indicating very dissatisfied. Thus, the overall level of satisfaction (the sum of scale values 1 and 2) amounts to 84%. Of 91 patients, 88% would agree to further treatment and 92% would recommend the therapy to others. All patients reported temporary tissue reactions such as swelling and redness which did not require any further treatment and were self-limiting. Serious or permanent complications did not occur.ConclusionsThe results of our study show that cryolipolysis is a safe and effective method for non-surgical body contouring, providing a high degree of patient satisfaction and recommendation rate.Level of Evidence: 4

One-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TA) is one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries performed in the last decades providing a high degree of patient satisfaction. But there is still controversy regarding the safety and efficacy between simultaneous bilateral TA (SBTA) or two-stage bilateral TA (TSBTA). The purpose of the study is to initiate a database of patients after SBTA for radiological monitoring of the condition of patients and knee joint endoprostheses. For the period 2014-2021 SBTA was performed in 230 patients with bilateral gonarthrosis 3rd stage: women – 167 (72.6%), men – 63 (27.4%). The age of patients – from 30 to 84 years. The body mass index (BMI) ranged from 22.5 (patient, 76 years old) to 48.7 (patient, 52 years old). Investigation design. Inclusion criteria: bilateral gonarthrosis in the 3rd stage of the disease with severe pain and severe functional impairments. Exclusion criteria: polymorbid diseases in the acute stage, morbid obesity, past myocardial infarction, stroke, varicose veins of the lower extremities, obesity, chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure, anemia of various origins (hemoglobin less than 110-115 g/l), HIV, uncompensated sugar diabetes, hidden foci of untreated infection. Conclusion. Patients should be selected for SBTA/TSBTA and consulted on the based of the risks associated with each strategy. The ability to provide effective assistance in complex cases provides patients with high satisfaction and increases the prestige of the clinic. A database of patients after SBTA was created for radiological monitoring of the condition of patients and knee joint endoprostheses.

Free Hand One Stage Correction of Kyphoscoliosis

Background: Scoliosis is a complex musculoskeletal torsional deformity of spine that includes: Lateral curvature in the anterior-posterior plane with a Cobb angle greater than 10 degrees, Angulation in the sagittal plane, or Rotation in the transverse plane. Scoliosis classified into neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital. Radiological evaluation is done by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR). We aimed to evaluate patients with idiopathic kyphoscoliosis who underwent a freehand posterior approach for scoliosis correction through transpedicular screws fixation. Setting: Al-Azhar University Hospitals. Subjects and Methods: Study was performed on 12 patients with idiopathic kyphoscoliosis who underwent a freehand posterior approach for scoliosis correction through transpedicular screws fixation in Al-Azhar University Hospitals between 2015 to 2018 & follow up for one year. Results: Early outcome showed improved Cobb’s angle and coronal balance significantly after surgery. Correction is 95% in 2 cases (17%), 80% correction in 8 cases (66%), 60% correction in 2 cases (17%). 2 cases have CSF leakage which improved with conservative treatment. Late follow-up shows improvement of patient deformity and cosmetic appearance to the degree of patient satisfaction occur in 7 cases (58%) associated with high SRS-30 total scores. However, assessment of the pain in comparison to preoperative assessment show improvement of pain in 4 cases (33%), persistent in 4 cases (33%), appear in 4 cases (33%). Conclusion: Freehand one-stage correction management of idiopathic kyphoscoliosis through the posterior approach is a safe and effective for near-total correction of deformity with a good outcome with minimal complications.

Treatment of Cutaneous Photoaging of Glabella with Autologous Platelet Concentrate

Introduction: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product obtained after centrifugation of the blood. Contains high concentrations of platelets and growth factors. It is currently a very popular therapy in dermatology; however, few studies objectively evaluate its efficacy. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal microinjection of autologous platelet concentrate (APC) in the treatment of glabella rejuvenation. Method: An observational, analytical and longitudinal study was carried out in 60 patients from the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico: “Hermanos Ameijeiras”, in the period between March 1, 2017 and March 31, 2020. The treatment was applied monthly. for 1 year. The final evaluation was carried out 3 months after the end of the treatment. Results: 60 women with an average age of 45 ± 4.3 years were treated. After treatment, there were significant changes in the Glogau Photo Damage Scale (P = 0.012), in the Photo numeric Scale for evaluating the severity of glabella wrinkles (P = 0.031) and in the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (P = 0.012). The adverse events found were pain, inflammation and ecchymosis. The degree of satisfaction reported by the patients was good (25.0%) and very good (75.0%) (P = 0.027). Conclusions: The autologous platelet concentrate proved to be effective and safe in reducing the signs of skin aging in glabella, associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Efficiency and Safety of Binocular Cataract Phacoemulsification

A literature review is presented on the comparative assessment of two options for conducting cataract phacoemulsification — monocular phacoemulsification of cataract, (delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery, DSBCS) and binocular phacoemulsification of cataract (immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery, ISBCS). It has been established that to date in the literature there is a sufficient amount of data indicating the positive aspects of ISBCS, associated with faster rehabilitation, better functional results, as well as time, financial, and economic aspects. The safety of ISBCS is determined by the minimum likelihood of postoperative bilateral endophthalmitis with careful selection of patients, the required surgeon qualifications and strict adherence to the surgical protocol. Comparatively, in accordance with the results obtained, postoperative refractive indices, the value of the maximum corrected distance visual acuity, the frequency of complications and the degree of patient satisfaction were the same regardless of whether the bilateral cataract surgery was performed simultaneously or sequentially. The effectiveness of ISBCS is determined by quick rehabilitation, the need for only one pair of glasses, a decrease in visits to the clinic, the absence of anisometropia between operations, as well as only one general anesthesia (if necessary). The experience of clinics where such procedures were carried out shows that after ISBCS, minor refractive errors occur, while they are almost always symmetrical, characterized by a slight deviation from the target refraction and rapid recovery of binocular and stereoscopic vision. In financial terms, in accordance with the calculations carried out, the cost of DSBCS in various countries may be higher than the cost of ISBCS by 10.8–47.9 %. In absolute terms, simultaneous cataract surgery on two eyes (Finland) saved €449 per patient in medical costs and €739 after travel and home care costs were included. Taking into account the cost of lost work time, the savings were €849 per patient. The wider distribution of ISBCS is associated with the approval of the ophthalmological community and insurance companies, as well as the development of standardized teaching materials for practicing ophthalmologists.

Gingival Depigmentation Using Diode 980 nm and Erbium-YAG 2940 nm Lasers: A Split-Mouth Clinical Comparative Study.

Background Gingival hyperpigmentation, “black gum,” refers to black discrete single or multiple pigments on the gingiva. Several factors may play a role in gingival hyperpigmentation ranging from physiologic pigmentation to manifestations of systemic diseases. Several techniques have been used for gingival depigmentation to lighten its color. Methods Fifteen patients exhibiting nonsmoking melanin hyperpigmentation, with the mean age of 28.6 ± 7.8 years, were recruited. The facial gingiva of the anterior teeth and premolars of each jaw was divided into two halves. The right or left side of each jaw quadrant randomly received either diode laser operating at 980 nm wavelength or erbium-YAG laser at 2940 nm. Parameters such as degree of gingival depigmentation, bleeding, pain, patient satisfaction, and wound healing were assessed and compared between the two techniques. The subjects were followed up to six months for melanin pigmentation recurrence. Results Both techniques were efficient for gingival depigmentation. Nevertheless, bleeding during surgery was statistically higher for Er:YAG laser technique as compared to diode laser. Wound healing showed statistically nonsignificant differences between the two lasers, although Er:YAG seems to give better outcomes than the diode. The patients were satisfied with both laser techniques during and after gingival depigmentation. However, the pain score was higher for Er:YAG laser than for diode laser. Conclusion This study demonstrated that both lasers' techniques are efficient for gingival depigmentation. However, diode laser seems to show less painful experience and relatively better bleeding control.

Variables related to reduced user satisfaction in the emergency unit.

The information received by patients about the severity of their condition, the type of tests to be performed, or the average waiting time in the service are factors that influence their degree of satisfaction and, therefore, their possible anger and/or aggressiveness. Users' discomfort can sometimes lead to violence towards health workers, and this, in turn, can lead to the commonly associated physical and psychological consequences. Our main objective is to explore the relationship between the waiting time, patients' perceived satisfaction with the service, as well as the other variables under study. We used a cross-sectional design was used to evaluate 320 hospital patients in the Region of Murcia (Spain). Our indicate that receiving information about their process, waiting time until the doctor's consultation, the degree of satisfaction with the professional, and the resolution of the doubts are predictors of the degree of overall patient satisfaction with the clinical experience.

Facial Skin Changes Produced by Treatment with Autologous Platelet Concentrate

Background: The tireless search for therapeutic options that alleviate the signs of skin aging is a challenge for the aesthetic practitioner. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous platelet concentrate (APC) in the treatment of facial cutaneous aging (FCA). Method: Between March 1, 2017 and March 31, 2021 at the “Hermanos Ameijeiras” hospital, a randomized, singlecenter, double-blind and controlled clinical trial was carried out in 164 patients with FCA. A group treated with APC was compared to another treated with fresh autologous plasma (FAP). The treatment was applied monthly for 1 year. Results: Three months after the end of the treatment, there were significant differences between the patients treated with APC compared to those treated with FAP in terms of improvement in the texture, tone, elasticity, hydration, pores, homogeneity of the skin, the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) and degree of satisfaction (p &lt;0.001). All adverse events were of mild intensity, did not imply changes before the intervention and were completely resolved. Conclusions: The autologous platelet concentrate proved to be effective and safe in reducing the signs of skin aging, associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Possibilities of quadripolar radiofrequency therapy as a method of rehabilitation after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

Background. This article is devoted to a topical topic in gynecology genital prolapse and methods of preventing recurrence in the postoperative period. Despite the surgery in the field of correction of genital prolapse, up to 13% of patients require repeated surgical treatment of this pathology in the postoperative period.&#x0D; Aim. At present, a unified algorithm for rehabilitation after operations to eliminate this pathology has not yet been developed. We proposed a technique for using quadripolar radiofrequency therapy in patients operated on for pelvic organ prolapse in the postoperative period in order to improve the rehabilitation period.&#x0D; Materials and methods. To achieve our goals, histological material was collected from 60 patients with pelvic organ prolapse before and after surgical treatment to assess the strength of collagenogenesis and reparative processes in the connective tissue of the vagina based on changes in the expression of the RNA matrix of collagen types I and III, genes encoding vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-A, transforming growth factor TGF-B1 and decorin by polymerase chain reaction. The FSFI-19 questionnaire was used to analyze the quality of the patients' sexual life. We also calculated the vagina health index of patients suffering from this disease.&#x0D; Results. In the course of the study, it was revealed that when using this method, complete re-epithelization of tissues occurs by 90 days after the operation, metabolic and trophic processes in the tissues of the urogenital tract intensify, and an increased degree of patient satisfaction with the quality of sexual life.&#x0D; Conclusion. All the results obtained confirmed the therapeutic effect of radiofrequency therapy in the postoperative period, which makes it possible to use the technique as a rehabilitation program after surgical treatment for genital prolapse.

428 The role of virtual visits in COVID-19 cardiovascular patients

AimsThe outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced a reorganization of the healthcare system. In order to prevent potential risk of exposure, virtual visit (VV) has been implemented in the treatment and follow-up of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of VV in the management of post COVID-19 cardiovascular patients.Methods and resultsWe enrolled all patients with cardiovascular comorbidities tested negative for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and discharged from our Cardiology Department from January 2021 to June 2021. We scheduled a VV after 30 days from discharge to check the clinical status of the patients, optimize therapy, and establish a Follow-up protocol. Blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate and body weight were registered. To evaluate the patients’ satisfaction of VV, a questionnaire was administered. We performed 25 VVs in the study period; the mean age of patients was 67.5 ± 15.6 and male were 15 (65.2%). The mean duration of VV was 25.9 ± 4.6 min. The caregiver had an active role in nine (36%) cases. No urgent/emergent in‐person examinations were performed. A high degree of patient satisfaction was reached and VV was preferred to in-person evaluation.ConclusionsVV visit was useful to Follow-up post COVID-19 cardiovascular patients. A high degree of patient satisfaction was reached without jeopardizing quality of care.

269 Management of cardiac implantable electronic device follow-up in COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned during Italian lock down

AimsRemote monitoring (RM) has significantly transformed the standard of care for patients with cardiac electronic implantable devices. It provides easy access to valuable information, such as arrhythmic events, acute decompensation manifestations, and device‐related issues, without the need of in‐person visits.Methods and resultsStarting 1 March, 332 patients were introduced to an RM programme during the Italian lockdown to limit the risk of in‐hospital exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the modality of RM delivery [home (n = 229) vs. office (n = 103) delivered]. The study aimed at assessing the efficacy of the new follow‐up protocol, assessed as mean RM activation time (AT), and the need for technical support. In addition, patients’ acceptance and anxiety status were quantified via the Home Monitoring Acceptance and Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7‐item scale. AT time was less than 48 h in 93% of patients and 7% of them required further technical support. Despite a higher number of trans‐telephonic technical support in the home‐delivered RM group, mean AT was similar between groups (1.33 ± 0.83 days in home‐delivered vs. 1.28 ± 0.81 days in office‐delivered patients; P = 0.60). A total of 28 (2.5%) urgent/emergent in‐person examinations were required. A high degree of patient satisfaction was reached in both groups whereas anxiety status was higher in the office‐delivered group.ConclusionsThe adoption of RM resulted in high patient satisfaction, regardless of the modality of modem delivery; nonetheless, in‐office modem delivery was associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms.

427 The role of virtual visits in cardiology: from the pandemic era to future perspectives

AimsDuring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in-person visits were reduced to prevent potential risk of exposure. Virtual visits (VVs) represent an innovative model to take care of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of VV in the management of CIED patients.Methods and resultsWe performed a prospective study including all CIED patients who received a VV from July 2020 to July 2021. Blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, and body weight were registered by the patient. Moreover, we sent to the patient a questionnaire to evaluate the patients’ satisfaction about VV. We enrolled 182 patients in the study period. The mean age of patients was 70.2 ± 13.5 years-old and the majority (61.1%) was male. In two cases, VVs were not performed due to technical issues. Overall, 70.9% of patients utilized a smartphone, while 20.1% and 9% used, respectively, a tablet or a personal computer. The mean duration of VV was 27.8 ± 7.8 min. Patients helped by a caregiver were 64 (35.2%). One urgent/emergent in‐person visit was performed in a patient with acute heart failure. Overall, VV was preferred to in-person evaluation.ConclusionVV is a safe and feasible approach to follow-up CIED patients. A high degree of patient satisfaction was reached after VV. The use of VV has promising potential and should be implemented beyond COVID-19 period and integrated in the healthcare system as a new model of care.