Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Pacemaker remote monitoring in the pediatric population: is it a real solution?
Loira Leoni1, Massimo Padalino, Roberta Biffanti
1Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
Insights
Remote monitoring of pacemakers in children is safe and effective. This approach successfully replaced routine outpatient visits, with high patient and family satisfaction, ensuring continued patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiology
- Biomedical engineering
- Remote patient monitoring
Background:
- Remote monitoring of cardiac implantable devices is proven in adults.
- Its clinical utility in pediatric patients with pacemakers is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical utility of remote monitoring for pediatric patients with pacemakers.
Main Methods:
- 73 pediatric patients with pacemakers were enrolled.
- Remote monitoring checks were scheduled every 3 months, with annual outpatient visits.
- Data on device events, hospitalizations, and clinical information were collected.
Main Results:
- Over 18 months, 470 remote transmissions were analyzed.
- 1.7% of transmissions prompted urgent outpatient visits.
- 20% of transmissions indicated significant clinical or technical events, with high patient/family satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Remote monitoring is safe and effective for pediatric pacemaker patients.
- It successfully replaced routine outpatient visits without compromising safety.
- High satisfaction and ease of use were noted in the pediatric population.
Background:
Clinical utility of remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices has been previously demonstrated in several trials in the adult population. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of remote monitoring in a pediatric population undergoing pacemakers implantation.
Methods:
The study population included 73 consecutive pediatric patients who received an implantable pacemaker. The remote device check was programmed for every 3 months and all patients had a yearly out-patient visit. Data on device-related events, hospitalization, and other clinical information were collected during remote checks and out-patient visits.
Results:
During a mean follow-up of 18 ± 10 months, 470 remote transmissions were collected and analyzed. Two deaths were reported. Eight transmissions (1.7%) triggered an urgent out-patient visit. Twenty percent of transmissions reported evidence of significant clinical or technical events. All young patients and their families were very satisfied when using remote monitoring to replace out-patient visits.
Conclusions:
The ease in use, together with satisfaction and acceptance of remote monitoring in pediatric patients, brought very good results. The remote management of our pediatric population was safe and remote monitoring adequately replaced the periodic out-patient device checks without compromising patient safety.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac...
01:23Holter Monitor: 24-Hour Monitoring
01:11Pulse Assessment Sites
01:17Assessment of apical pulse
Assessing the apical pulse is a critical nursing procedure, particularly indicated for:
01:13Special considerations while measuring pulse
01:25Assessment of apical radial pulse
The A-R pulse assessment involves simultaneous evaluation of the apical and radial pulses. When the apical and radial pulse rates vary, this assessment helps identify a pulse deficit.
Pre-Procedural Preparation