Remote follow-up and continuous remote monitoring, distinguished

Remote device management involves remote follow-up (which replace periodic in-clinic device interrogations for assessing device function), remote monitoring (with unscheduled transmissions of alerts such as atrial fibrillation), and patient-initiated interrogations (that are initiated manually due to a perceived or real clinical event). This article overviews the different aspects related to these functions

Overcoming the challenge of venous occlusion for lead implantation

Vein stenosis or occlusion is a frequent finding in patients with previously-implanted transvenous leads. This editorial describes the different techniques that may be used to overcome this hurdle in case a new lead needs to be implanted, and discusses two case reports in this issue of the journal

Is There a Future for Remote Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Management?

In the era of communication technology, remote monitoring has been a paradigm shift in the way patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices are managed. It has been endorsed by scientific societies and is being increasingly adopted in the clinical setting. Despite the various advantages associated with this strategy, data on improved clinical outcome are still sparse. The recently published study on the remote management of heart failure using implanted devices and formalised follow-up procedures, which turned out to be negative, has cast doubt on whether remote monitoring should still be used. This article provides a critical appraisal of the study, and discusses the issue of remote data management

Atrioventricular 1:1 tachycardia effectively terminated by antitachycardia pacing : What is your diagnosis?

This case describes a tachycardia with a 1:1 atrioventricular relationship that was effectively terminated with antitachycardia pacing by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The differential diagnosis and clues that allow the reader to establish the correct diagnosis are discussed. The case also serves to analyse technical features of Boston Scientific dual-chamber defibrillators