title: [Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: Is remote monitoring obligatory?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The possibilities of telemonitoring (TM) of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) have been rapidly improving over the last few years. Numerous studies have examined the effects of this development on the follow-up care of ICD patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Technical implementation and safety of ICD telemonitoring. Effects on the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, the management of cardiac insufficiency patients and morbidity as well as mortality. Illustration of patient acceptance and cost-benefit assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current research situation regarding TM of ICDs is analyzed and the available evidence for the postulated advantages in the follow-up care of ICD patients are discussed. The current treatment guidelines and recommendations for implementation of TM in daily clinical praxis are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TM offers the possibility of faster reaction times to arrhythmias, cardiac decompensation and ICD malfunctions. At the same time, the outpatient follow-ups can be reduced without negatively affecting safety, quality of life or patient acceptance. TM has the potential to cost-neutrally improve the safety of ICD therapy and could lead to optimized management of heart insufficiency patients, while reducing morbidity and mortality. Following the evidence of these benefits as shown in numerous studies, TM has already been included in the current therapy guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik II, Kardiologie, Angiologie, Pneumologie und Intensivmedizin - Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland, fritz.horlbeck@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Fritz W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Horlbeck
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013686:Telemetry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome