Direct left atrial pressure monitoring in ambulatory heart failure patients: initial experience with a new permanent implantable device.
BACKGROUND
We describe the first human experience with a permanently implantable, direct left atrial pressure (LAP) monitoring system in ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure.


RESULTS
Eight patients with established heart failure and at least 1 heart failure hospitalization or unplanned visit for parenteral therapy in the last year underwent device implantation under fluoroscopic guidance. All subjects received aspirin 150 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg daily. Subjects measured LAP twice daily and attended a clinic regularly for data upload and device calibration. Right heart catheterization was performed at the time of device implantation and at 12 weeks. The device was implanted in all subjects with no procedural complications. At the 12-week follow-up, 87% of device LAP measurements were within +/-5 mm Hg of simultaneous pulmonary capillary wedge pressure readings over a wide range of pressures (1.6 to 71 mm Hg). Net drift corrected by calibration was -0.2+/-1.9 mm Hg/mo. During short-term follow-up, there were no device-related complications or systemic emboli. There were no deaths, no unplanned heart failure clinic visits, and no admissions for heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory monitoring of direct LAP with a new implantable device was well tolerated, feasible, and accurate at a short-term follow-up. Further follow-up and investigation are warranted to evaluate the clinical utility of LAP monitoring in patients with heart failure.
Department of Cardiology, Parkside West, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch, New Zealand 8001. jayr@cdhb.govt.nz
Jay
J
Ritzema
Iain C
IC
Melton
A Mark
AM
Richards
Ian G
IG
Crozier
Chris
C
Frampton
Robert N
RN
Doughty
James
J
Whiting
Saibal
S
Kar
Neal
N
Eigler
Henry
H
Krum
William T
WT
Abraham
Richard W
RW
Troughton
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014159:Transducers