Remote monitoring for implantable cardiac electronic devices

Pacemaker and implantable defibrillator implantation rates have increased significantly over the last decade. This, along with increasing complexity of the devices, has placed a large burden on the physicians and technicians that provide the follow up services for these patients. Recently technological advances have allowed remote interrogation of pacemakers and defibrillators with subsequent transmission of this information to a remote location for assessment. The technology behind remote device follow up, the potential advantages and the status of this technology is addressed in this article.