Direct left atrial pressure monitoring in severe heart failure: long-term sensor performance

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2011 Feb;4(1):3-13. doi: 10.1007/s12265-010-9229-z. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Abstract

We report the stability, accuracy, and development history of a new left atrial pressure (LAP) sensing system in ambulatory heart failure (HF) patients. A total of 84 patients with advanced HF underwent percutaneous transseptal implantation of the pressure sensor. Quarterly noninvasive calibration by modified Valsalva maneuver was achieved in all patients, and 96.5% of calibration sessions were successful with a reproducibility of 1.2 mmHg. Absolute sensor drift was maximal after 3 months at 4.7 mmHg (95% CI, 3.2-6.2 mmHg) and remained stable through 48 months. LAP was highly correlated with simultaneous pulmonary wedge pressure at 3 and 12 months (r = 0.98, average difference of 0.8 ± 4.0 mmHg). Freedom from device failure was 95% (n = 37) at 2 years and 88% (n = 12) at 4 years. Causes of failure were identified and mitigated with 100% freedom from device failure and less severe anomalies in the last 41 consecutive patients (p = 0.005). Accurate and reliable LAP measurement using a chronic implanted monitoring system is safe and feasible in patients with advanced heart failure.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Function, Left*
  • Australia
  • Calibration
  • Electrodes, Implanted* / standards
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Function Tests / instrumentation*
  • Heart Function Tests / standards
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / standards
  • New Zealand
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pressure
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
  • Registries
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Time Factors
  • Transducers, Pressure* / standards
  • United States
  • Valsalva Maneuver