Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017; 65(S 01): S1-S110
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1598927
e-Poster Presentations
Sunday, February 12, 2017
DGTHG: e-Poster: Terminal Heart and Lung Failure
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Impact of Telemonitoring in Patients with Ventricular Assist Device

E. Deniz
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
C. Feldmann
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
T. Schmidt
2   Schüchtermann Klinik, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany
,
J.D. Hoffmann
2   Schüchtermann Klinik, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany
,
J. Hanke
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
S.V. Rojas-Hernandez
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
G. Dogan
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
D. Berliner
3   Hannover Medical School, Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover, Germany
,
C. Bara
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
G. Warnecke
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
A. Haverich
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
J.D. Schmitto
1   Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
N. Reiss
2   Schüchtermann Klinik, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
03 February 2017 (online)

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Objectives: The growing number of heart failure worldwide, have led to an increasing need for the use of Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs). Consequently, there is a need of improved postoperative healthcare support. For chronic cardiac diseases telemonitoring is a promising strategy to improve the management of patients. In patients with heart failure it has been shown to reduce mortality. Telemonitoring of VAD parameters may also improve patient aftercare by reducing the number of post-surgical outpatient visits and severe complications. However, there is limited knowledge of the extent to which it could support the patient and about patients´ acceptance of such future service in routine clinical care. Therefore we explored VAD patient´ views on the current postoperative care and the request of telemonitoring.

Methods: The semi-qualitative two center study includes interviews with 180 VAD patients (mean age 57, 148 (82.2%) male, 1012 mean on-going days) from January - June 2016. Thematic analysis of the data was performed using constant comparison.

Results: 129/168 patients welcome the introduction of telemedicine. They recognize telemedicine as an improved support for the postoperative care. However, there is a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the need for telemedicine in dependence of home situation and support: 80% of patients, who do not live alone (n = 131) and / or have a support in daily life (n = 145), agree with the initiation of telemedicine in VAD while only 60% of the patients who live alone (n = 33) and/or have no support at home (n = 17) ask for telemonitoring. In addition, the investigation results in a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the request for telemedicine between patients who have heard about (n = 50) telemedicine and those who not (n = 115): Especially the patients, who are informed in telemedicine, welcome the introduction of telemedicine in VAD (44/50 vs. 85/115). They expect more security in their disease and handling with VAD (p < 0.001) due to telemonitoring. Compared with the current (63%) and expected (69%) QoL through telemonitoring, patients await a significant increase in QoL (p < 0.001) due to telemedicine.

Conclusion: These findings are suggesting a need for more elucidation about telemedicine. In view of patients´ opinion, telemedicine offers more security and quality of life, the demand for implementation of telemonitoring is an expected next step in the aftercare of VAD patients.