title: [New implantable devices for patient management: role and perspectives of remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators].
abstract: A large number of studies have demonstrated that remote control of implantable devices (home monitoring, HM) is beneficial for patients, as it allows strict and tailored controls with earlier identification of potential problems, by avoiding unnecessary visits. HM is also beneficial for hospitals, as it progressively reduces the resources necessary for routine controls and contributes to a better management of critical patients. According to current European and Italian guidelines, HM can replace standard ambulatory monitoring, thereby decreasing the number of outpatient visits for each individual patient (it is possible to schedule a comprehensive clinical evaluation at 1 year rather than every 6-8 months, while performing controls at 1 and 3 months by remote transmission). At present, however, reimbursement of HM services is not covered by the National Health System and, as a consequence, cannot be performed as an institutional activity within the hospital. In addition, many critical issues remain to be resolved before the HM system can be fully implemented into daily clinical management, particularly in patients with heart failure at higher risk for sudden cardiac death.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Cardiovascolare, A.O.Ospedale Niguarda Ca'Granda, Milano. emanuelateresa.locati@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors.forename: Emanuela T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Locati
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vargiu
authors.forename: Ederina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mulargia
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ardito
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schirru
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pedretti
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Negrini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lunati
mesh_terms: D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D017216:Telemedicine