Device monitoring of intrathoracic impedance: clinical observations from a patient registry. 2007

John Andriulli
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA. ja8pt@aol.com

A distinct advantage of implantable device diagnostics is that the data may be made available on a continuous basis, rather than at sporadic intervals associated with clinical testing. Recently, intrathoracic impedance monitoring has also become available in some implantable devices as an index of congestion and thoracic fluid accumulation secondary to decompensated heart failure. Despite the potential advantages, new advances in implantable device diagnostic technology also pose important questions regarding their clinical application. To examine these questions and to generate hypotheses, the relation between daily intrathoracic impedance measurements and other physical measurements or comorbidities was studied. A retrospective review was performed of 25 patients who previously underwent implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy/defibrillator device with the capability to continuously monitor intrathoracic impedance. This limited scope analysis demonstrated that daily measurement of intrathoracic impedances might reveal the intrinsic relations between heart failure decompensation and the onset of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Abnormal patterns of intrathoracic impedance that has increased and plateaued after implant may indicate worsening heart failure. The severity of congestive heart failure at the time of interrogation may correlate with device-based impedance measurements. Weight, sex, and body index may have a limited impact on impedance, and the lowest impedances may be seen in older patients. Patients with severe pulmonary disease may present with unique daily impedance profiles. Finally, daily impedance may have unpredictable relations with other clinical markers of heart failure. In summary, intrathoracic impedance represents a clinically useful diagnostic tool that can increase our understanding of a dynamic disease state on an individual patient basis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008499 Medical Records Recording of pertinent information concerning patient's illness or illnesses. Health Diaries,Medical Transcription,Records, Medical,Transcription, Medical,Diaries, Health,Diary, Health,Health Diary,Medical Record,Medical Transcriptions,Record, Medical,Transcriptions, Medical
D009515 New Jersey State bounded on the north by New York and Pennsylvania, on the east by New York and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Delaware Bay, and on the west by Pennsylvania.
D012042 Registries The systems and processes involved in the establishment, support, management, and operation of registers, e.g., disease registers. Parish Registers,Population Register,Parish Register,Population Registers,Register, Parish,Register, Population,Registers, Parish,Registers, Population,Registry
D002307 Cardiography, Impedance A type of impedance plethysmography in which bioelectrical impedance is measured between electrodes positioned around the neck and around the lower thorax. It is used principally to calculate stroke volume and cardiac volume, but it is also related to myocardial contractility, thoracic fluid content, and circulation to the extremities. Impedance, Transthoracic,Plethysmography, Impedance, Transthoracic,Impedance Cardiography,Impedance Plethysmography, Transthoracic,Plethysmography, Transthoracic Impedance,Transthoracic Impedance Plethysmography,Cardiographies, Impedance,Impedance Cardiographies,Impedance Plethysmographies, Transthoracic,Impedances, Transthoracic,Plethysmographies, Transthoracic Impedance,Transthoracic Impedance,Transthoracic Impedance Plethysmographies,Transthoracic Impedances
D005260 Female Females
D006333 Heart Failure A heterogeneous condition in which the heart is unable to pump out sufficient blood to meet the metabolic need of the body. Heart failure can be caused by structural defects, functional abnormalities (VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION), or a sudden overload beyond its capacity. Chronic heart failure is more common than acute heart failure which results from sudden insult to cardiac function, such as MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. Cardiac Failure,Heart Decompensation,Congestive Heart Failure,Heart Failure, Congestive,Heart Failure, Left-Sided,Heart Failure, Right-Sided,Left-Sided Heart Failure,Myocardial Failure,Right-Sided Heart Failure,Decompensation, Heart,Heart Failure, Left Sided,Heart Failure, Right Sided,Left Sided Heart Failure,Right Sided Heart Failure
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old

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