Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2025
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Pacemaker remote monitoring challenges in pediatric population: Single center long term experience
Dagmar Kowal1,2, Artur Baszko3,4, Krzysztof Czyż3
1Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. 85126@student.ump.edu.pl.
Insights
Remote monitoring (RM) for pediatric cardiac devices shows high initial enrollment and transmission success. However, continuous monitoring adherence decreases during holidays, with alert events mainly linked to lead issues and arrhythmias.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) improves adult outcomes.
- Limited data exists on RM efficacy and prognosis in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of RM in pediatric patients with CIEDs.
- Analyze bedside transmitter connectivity, adherence to follow-ups, and alert event occurrence.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated pediatric patients with pacemakers for congenital AV block or surgically corrected congenital heart disease.
- Included 69 patients, all enrolled in RM with bedside transmitters.
- Monitored patients for a median of 33.0 months.
Main Results:
- 95.7% had successful first follow-up transmissions.
- Continuous monitoring was achieved in 42% of patients.
- 34.8% missed transmissions during the holiday season (June-September).
- Alert events occurred in 40.6% of patients, primarily due to epicardial lead malfunction and arrhythmias.
- Socioeconomic factors impacted overall compliance.
Conclusions:
- High compliance with initial RM enrollment and transmission noted.
- Interrupted bedside transmitter connectivity reduced adherence during holidays.
- Low occurrence of alert transmissions, mainly linked to lead issues and arrhythmias, was observed.
Background:
Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices for adults offers improved treatment efficacy and, consequently, better patient clinical outcomes. There is scant data on the value and prognosis of RM in the pediatric population.
Aims:
The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of RM by analyzing the connectivity of bedside transmitters, adherence to planned automatic follow-ups, and occurrence of alert-based events.
Methods:
We evaluated the pediatric population with implanted pacemakers for congenital AV block or after surgically corrected congenital heart diseases.
Results:
A total of 69 patients were included in our study. The median (Q1-Q3) patient age was 6.0 (2.0-11.0) years. All patients received bedside transmitters and were enrolled in the RM system. Among them, 95.7% of patients had their first scheduled follow-up successfully sent. Patients were followed up remotely over a median time of 33.0 (13-45) months. Only 42% of patients were continuously monitored, and all scheduled transmissions were delivered on time. Further analysis revealed that 34.8% of patients missed transmissions between June and September (holiday season). Alert-based events were observed in 40.6% patients, mainly related to epicardial lead malfunction and arrhythmic events. Overall compliance was also compromised by socioeconomic factors.
Conclusions:
Our findings are in concordance with recently published results by PACES regarding a high level of compliance in patient enrollment to RM and time to initial transmission. However, a lower level of adherence was observed during the holiday season due to interrupted connectivity of bedside transmitters. Importantly, a relatively low occurrence of alert transmissions was observed, mainly related to epicardial lead malfunction and arrhythmic events.
