Project description:MRI has become an invaluable tool in the evaluation of soft tissue and bony abnormalities. The presence of a cardiac implantable electrical device (CIED) may complicate matters, however, because these devices are considered a contraindication to MRI scanning. When MRI is performed in patients with a CIED, risks include reed switch activation in older devices, lead heating, system malfunction, and significant radiofrequency noise resulting in inappropriate inhibition of demand pacing, tachycardia therapies, or programming changes. This report reviews indications and risk-benefit evaluation of MRI in patients with CIED and provides a clinical algorithm for performing MRI in patients with implanted devices.
Project description:The role of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-related tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is increasingly recognized as an independent clinical entity. Hence, interventional TR treatment options continuously evolve, surgical risk assessment and peri-operative care improve the management of CIED-related TR, and the role of lead extraction is of high interest. Furthermore, novel surgical and interventional tricuspid valve treatment options are increasingly applied to patients suffering from TR associated with or related to CIEDs. This multidisciplinary review article developed with electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, imaging specialists, and cardiac surgeons aims to give an overview of the mechanisms of disease, diagnostics, and proposes treatment algorithms of patients suffering from TR associated with CIED lead(s) or leadless pacemakers.
Project description:BackgroundAtrial high rate episodes (AHREs) detected by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are associated with an increased risk of stroke. However, the impact of AHRE on improving stroke risk stratification scheme remains uncertain.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the impact of AHRE on prognosis in relation with cardiovascular events and risk stratification.MethodsA total of 856 consecutive patients who had dual-chamber CIEDs implanted were retrospectively analyzed. To detect AHREs, they were monitored for 6 months after CIEDs' implantation and were followed for a mean of 4.0 years for clinical outcomes such as thromboembolism or death.ResultsOverall, 125 (14.6%) of patients developed AHREs within the first 6 months (median age 72.0 years, 39.3% female). Patients with AHREs had a high rate of thromboembolism (2.6%/year) and mortality (3.0%/year). On multivariate analysis, AHRE was significantly associated with increased risk of thromboembolism [hazard ratio (HR) 3.40; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-8.37, P = 0.01] and death (HR 3.47; 95% CI 1.51-7.95; P < 0.01). The predictive abilities of the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were modest, with no significant improvements by adding AHRE to those scores. However, the integrated discrimination improvement and net reclassification improvement showed that the addition of AHRE to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores statistically improved their predictive ability for the composite outcome.ConclusionsAHRE was an independent factor associated with increased risk of clinical outcomes. The addition of AHRE to the clinical risk scores significantly improved discrimination for thromboembolism or death.
Project description:Background and aimsBloodstream infection (BSI) of any cause may lead to device infection in cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) patients. Aiming for a better understanding of the diagnostic approach, treatment, and outcome, patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator (CRT-D) hospitalized with BSI were investigated.MethodsThis is a single-centre, retrospective, cohort analysis including consecutive ICD/CRT-D patients implanted between 2012 and 2021. These patients were screened against a list of all hospitalized patients having positive blood cultures consistent with diagnosed infection in any department of a local public hospital.ResultsThe total cohort consisted of 515 patients. Over a median follow-up of 59 months (interquartile range 31-87 months), there were 47 BSI episodes in 36 patients. The majority of patients with BSI (92%) was admitted to non-cardiology units, and in 25 episodes (53%), no cardiac imaging was performed. Nearly all patients (85%) were treated with short-term antibiotics, whereas chronic antibiotic suppression therapy (n = 4) and system extraction (n = 3) were less frequent. Patients with BSI had a nearly seven-fold higher rate (hazard ratio 6.7, 95% confidence interval 3.9-11.2; P < .001) of all-cause mortality.ConclusionsDiagnostic workup of defibrillator patients with BSI admitted to a non-cardiology unit is often insufficient to characterize lead-related endocarditis. The high mortality rate in these patients with BSI may relate to underdiagnosis and consequently late/absence of system removal. Efforts to increase an interdisciplinary approach and greater use of cardiac imaging are necessary for timely diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Project description:AimsRemote monitoring for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is well established in clinical routine and recommended by current guidelines. Nevertheless, data regarding patients' perceptions are limited. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the patient perspectives on the remote monitoring of cardiac devices in Germany.Methods and resultsPatients with CIEDs and remote monitoring of all current manufacturers from three German centers were asked to participate. The questionnaire consisted of 37 questions regarding the patients' individual use and perspectives on remote monitoring. Survey participation was anonymous and on a voluntary basis. A total of 617 patients (71.6% men) participated. Most patients reported feeling well informed (69.3%) and reported having unchanged or improved coping (98.8%) since the start of remote monitoring. At least 39.7% of patients experienced technical problems regarding the transmitter, whereas most patients (60.3%) reported that they never noted technical issues. Older patients had significantly less interest than younger patients in using their own smartphones for data transfer (p < 0.001).ConclusionPatients with remote follow-up of CIED reported that they felt well informed about the remote monitoring approach. Remote monitoring can support coping with their disease. With remote monitoring, patients experienced a prolongation of intervals of in-person follow-up visits, and especially younger patients would appreciate smartphone-based data transfer of their CIEDs.
Project description:BackgroundThere is limited data on the impact of comorbidity burden on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) implantation.ObjectivesOur aim was to assess trends in CIED implantations and explore the relationship between comorbidity burden and outcomes in patients undergoing de novo implantations.MethodsUsing the National Inpatient Sample database from 2000 to 2014, we identified adults ⩾18 years undergoing de novo CIED procedures. Comorbidity burden was assessed by Charlson comorbidity Index (CCI), and patients were classified into 4 categories based on their CCI scores (CCI = 0, CCI = 1, CCI = 2, CCI ⩾3). Annual implantation trends were evaluated. Logistic regression was conducted to measure the association between categorized comorbidity burden and outcomes.ResultsA total of 3 103 796 de-novo CIED discharge records were identified from the NIS database. About 22.4% had a CCI score of 0, 28.2% had a CCI score of 1, 22% had a CCI score of 2, and 27.4 % had a CCI score ⩾3. Annual de-novo CIED implantations peaked in 2006 and declined steadily from 2010 to 2014. Compared to CCI 0, CCI ⩾3 was independently associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality, bleeding, pericardial, and cardiac complications (all P < .05). Length of stay and hospital charges increased with increasing comorbidity burden.ConclusionsCCI is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes after CIED implantation. Therefore, comorbidity burden needs to be considered in the decision-making process for CIED implant candidates.
Project description:Population aging and broader indications for the implant of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are the main reasons for the continuous increase in the use of pacemakers (PMs), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-P, CRT-D). The growing burden of comorbidities in CIED patients, the greater complexity of the devices, and the increased duration of procedures have led to an augmented risk of infections, which is out of proportion to the increase in implantation rate. CIED infections are an ominous condition, which often implies the necessity of hospitalization and carries an augmented risk of in-hospital death. Their clinical presentation may be either at pocket or at endocardial level, but they can also manifest themselves with lone bacteremia. The management of these infections requires the complete removal of the device and subsequent, specific, antibiotic therapy. CIED failures are monitored by competent public authorities, that require physicians to alert them to any failures, and that suggest the opportune strategies for their management. Although the replacement of all potentially affected devices is often suggested, common practice indicates the replacement of only a minority of devices, as close follow-up of the patients involved may be a safer strategy. Implantation of a PM or an ICD may cause problems in the patients' psychosocial adaptation and quality of life, and may contribute to the development of affective disorders. Clinicians are usually unaware of the psychosocial impact of implanted PMs and ICDs. The main difference between PM and ICD patients is the latter's dramatic experience of receiving a shock. Technological improvements and new clinical evidences may help reduce the total burden of shocks. A specific supporting team, providing psychosocial help, may contribute to improving patient quality of life.
Project description:This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of measuring frailty in patients with cardiac implantable electrical devices while validating the physiologic significance of device-detected physical activity by evaluating its association with frailty and mobility. Outpatients with cardiac implantable electrical devices compatible with physical activity analysis with at least 7 days of data were eligible. Office testing included frailty status (Study of Osteoporotic Fractures instrument), gait speed (m/s), mobility according to the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (seconds), and daily physical activity (h/d) as measured by cardiac implantable electrical device. Among 219 patients, Study of Osteoporotic Fractures testing found 39.7% to be robust, 47.5% prefrail, and 12.8% frail. The mean gait speed for the cohort was 0.8±0.3 m/s, mean TUG time was 10.9±4.4 seconds, and mean activity was 2.8±1.9 h/d. Frail patients were markedly more likely to have gait speeds <0.8 m/s (OR 6.25, 95% CI 1.79-33.3). In unadjusted analyses each 1-hour increase in mean daily activity was associated with a 46% reduction of frail phenotype (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40-0.74) versus robust and with a 27% reduction in the odds of having the prefrail phenotype (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.86). After adjustment this association per hour of activity persisted, with an adjusted OR for frailty of 0.71 (95% CI 0.51-0.99) and adjusted OR for prefrailty of 0.81 (95% CI 0.67-0.99). Frailty and mobility limitation are common among cardiac implantable electrical device patients and are correlated to device-detected physical activity.