title: Pacemaker remote monitoring in the pediatric population: is it a real solution?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical utility of remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices has been previously demonstrated in several trials in the adult population. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of remote monitoring in a pediatric population undergoing pacemakers implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 73 consecutive pediatric patients who received an implantable pacemaker. The remote device check was programmed for every 3 months and all patients had a yearly out-patient visit. Data on device-related events, hospitalization, and other clinical information were collected during remote checks and out-patient visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a mean follow-up of 18 ± 10 months, 470 remote transmissions were collected and analyzed. Two deaths were reported. Eight transmissions (1.7%) triggered an urgent out-patient visit. Twenty percent of transmissions reported evidence of significant clinical or technical events. All young patients and their families were very satisfied when using remote monitoring to replace out-patient visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ease in use, together with satisfaction and acceptance of remote monitoring in pediatric patients, brought very good results. The remote management of our pediatric population was safe and remote monitoring adequately replaced the periodic out-patient device checks without compromising patient safety.
authors: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
authors: Loira
authors: L
authors: Leoni
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Padalino
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Biffanti
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Ferretto
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Vettor
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Corrado
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Stellin
authors: Ornella
authors: O
authors: Milanesi
authors: Sabino
authors: S
authors: Iliceto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000379:methods*
keywords: pacemaker remote follow-up; pediatric patients; remote follow-up