Comparison of skin adhesive and absorbable intracutaneous suture for the implantation of cardiac rhythm devices.

Aims: Wound healing is a major determent in the post-surgical course of patients (pts) after pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Insufficient closure may lead to serious complications with pocket infections leading to the device's explantation as the worst case scenario. In addition to the different types of suture and suture clips, a novel topical skin adhesive containing 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate is commercially available.

Safety and reliability of the insertable Reveal XT recorder in patients undergoing 3 Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Up to now there is little evidence about the safety and reliability of insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective: The purpose of this prospective single-center study (MACPAF; clinicaltrials.govNCT01061931), which we are currently performing, was to evaluate these issues for the ICM Reveal XT at a 3 Tesla MRI scanner in patients undergoing serial brain MRI.

Limitations of the past and latest evolutions of home monitoring: arrhythmia electrograms transmitted automatically improve the efficacy of remote monitoring.

Background: Telemetric surveillance systems are part of a well-accepted and evolving field in the care of cardiac patients. Especially in patients with implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), they are well established and their usefulness and reliability have been shown in several clinical trials. Currently, three generations of Home Monitoring™ (HM, Biotronik GmbH & Co.

Potential role of home monitoring to reduce inappropriate shocks in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients due to lead failure.

Aims: Lead dysfunctions in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients can lead to inappropriate shocks or even complete loss of function of the device. Home monitoring (HM) systems are capable of daily data transmissions regarding the device and the lead integrity as well as information concerning anti-arrhythmic therapies. We therefore analysed the data from the Biotronik HM system whether it enables physicians to react quickly on serious ICD malfunctions and to avoid inappropriate shocks.