Acute Heart Failure and Implantable Cardiac Devices in the Acute Care Setting

Abstract The use of implantable cardiac devices continues to increase in heart failure patients. The potential roles for these devices can include defibrillation, pacing, resynchronization, and physiologic monitoring. While referral for implantable devices generally occurs in the outpatient setting, an acute care encounter may provide an opportunity for recognition of a patient with an appropriate indication for a device. Therefore, we briefly discuss the indications for an implantable cardiac device in heart failure patients, so as to facilitate recognition and potential referral. We will also discuss the data elements that can potentially be obtained from cardiac devices, as well as how this data can potentially aid in the diagnosis and treatment of acute heart failure.
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research