Telephone monitoring??

Hi. Got my first PM on Aug 26th. I am not PM dependent. I have a Sorin Reply DR for SSS, Brady and VVS.

Got a call from a monitoring company (prompted by my EP) about sending me a telephone monitoring device. I have a few questions.

Do most of you use one and is it worth the cost and hassle? I live only about 6 miles from the EP office.

What does it check. Battery, threshold, sensitivity?

Will it work with an iPhone? I do not own a land line and have no intention of getting one.

Do you think i need it or is it just a useless expense?

Thanks, Lou

6 Comments

Sorin and remote monitoring?

by golden_snitch - 2013-10-13 04:10:34

Hi Lou!

Since when does Sorin have remote monitoring in the U.S.? All I can find is that they received FDA approval for remote monitoring for ICD patients this May, and in Europe they launched something for Paradigm patients (CRT device). I actually don't think that your Reply is compatible with remote monitoring, but if that has changed please let me know. I checked all their press releases at: http://www.sorin.com/medical-professionals/cardiac-rhythm-management/focus/our-personality

Regarding the need of a monitor: I don't think pacemaker patients need it. In Germany, only CRT and ICD patients get those monitors, because the added value for simple pacemaker patients is close to zero. The only situation in which I'd think it makes sense is when the battery has about a year left, and you want to keep an eye on that. Then it would be nice to have remote monitoring. But apart from that, patients with sinus node issues or heart block don't need it. Our problems are fixed by the pacemaker. Heart failure patients and those who have life threatening arrhythmia need a better follow-up, so for them the monitoring makes sense.

Best

Inga

Not sure it is worth it

by lbdina - 2013-10-13 11:10:50

Thanks for the responses.

Inga...I think you are correct. A company called Cardiac Monitoring Center called me and they provide a 'generic' telephone monitoring device. I think you put bracelets on your wrist and call them. It is not a Sorin dedicated device. All it does is record an EKG, check battery and a few other basic tests. They couldn't even confirm if the device works with my iPhone. I don't see that it offers much for someone in my situation. I'm not PM dependent, don't currently have AF, AV block etc.

Here is a quick description from their website:

Transtelephonic Monitoring (TTM)
The TTM procedure consists of a phone call to the patient that results in the procurement of three electrocardiograms; two real time and one magnet test mode for checking sensing, pacing and battery life. The electrocardiograms are obtained through a small transmitter box that relays the patient’s normal heart rhythms and implanted device data to the technician’s computer. After analysis, the report is processed and forwarded to the patient’s cardiologist for interpretation.

Thanks

by lbdina - 2013-10-14 03:10:34

Thanks for the responses.

I'll skip remote monitoring unless my EP gives me very compelling reasons that make sense and illustrate obvious benefits. My initial feeling was to pass on telephone monitoring, especially since I'd be given a generic device that doesn't provide much useful information. Your responses confirm my initial thoughts.

Regards and thanks to all!

Lou

Don't do it

by golden_snitch - 2013-10-14 03:10:44

Hi Lou!

I would not do any kind of pacemaker testing/monitoring that has NOT been approved by the pacemaker manufacturer. So, if you should consider this I'd call Sorin and ask whether it's safe. But as I said before, you don't really need this, especially not since you are so close to your EP's office.

Inga

Telephone monitoring

by Alma Annie - 2013-10-14 12:10:29

I have one and am monitored every 3 months. I live about 1 hour drive from the clinic. No big deal to drive but EP said there was no need to come in unless I had a problem.
I don't pay for this but if I had to I would drive to clinic. As you live so close I can't see the point as the pacer tech would visit your clinic often, and since you don't have a land line you could not do it anyway.
I should phone EP office and tell them no, you will come in when necessary.
Alma Annie.

asfasf

by boxxed - 2013-10-17 09:10:53

Sounds like TTM.

You can diagnose alot of pacer function (like under-sensing and failure to capture) and (most importantly) battery life through magnet rate with TTM.

But it doesn't do stuff that remote monitoring does these days. It won't make your doctor's office aware of stuff like episodes, PMT, new onset AF, any shocks, % V-pacing.

The Reply DR does not support Remote Monitoring. Only the Paradym RF models.

And golden_snitch, Remote Monitoring is recently available for ICDs in the states. I don't know if it's completely wide-spread.

And to be quite frank, I prefer everyone to have remote monitoring if they can, even pacemakers. It's why I like BSX devices and SJM devices. They're the only ones as far as I know with automatic, wireless remote-monitoring for pacers. There are plenty of things you can catch, like a potentially failing lead (dramatically low or high impedance) or new onset Atrial Fibrillation (this one is big), and of course monitoring a low battery. Being close to your doctor's office is great. It's a tremendous time, gas, and convenience saver. Tut there are times where the device can develop or record issues where someone is largely asymptomatic. It's by no means as important as a remote on an ICD, but there are definitely a few important things that people can catch inbetween the routine 6mo f/u appointments.

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