Strategic reprogramming of implantable cardiac monitors reduces the false-positive remote alert burden in a nurse-led service

Implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) can generate false-positive (FP) alerts. Although these devices have an extended programmability, there are no recommendations on their optimization to reduce not-relevant activations.

We tested a strategic programming optimization guide based on the type of FP and investigated the safety and feasibility of the nurse-led insertion of ICMs with a long-sensing vector.

Consecutive patients implanted by trained nurses with long-sensing vector ICM were enrolled in a 1-month observational stage (Phase A). Patients who had ≥10 FP episodes underwent ICM reprogramming based on the predefined guide and were followed for an additional month (Phase B). A total of 78 patients had successful ICM insertion by nurses with a mean R wave amplitude of 0.96 ± 0.43 mV and an 86% P wave visibility. Only one patient reported a significant device-related issue, and nurse-delivered ICM was generally well accepted by the patients. During Phase A, 11 patients (14%) generated most of FP (3,627/3,849; 94%) and underwent ICM reprogramming. In the following month (Phase B), five patients (45%) were free from FP and six (55%) transmitted 57 FP alerts (98% reduction compared with Phase A). The median number of FP per patient was significantly reduced after reprogramming [195 (interquartile range, 50–311) vs. one (0–10), P = 0.0002].

A strategic reprogramming of ICM in those patients with a high FP alert burden reduces the volume of erroneous activations with potential benefits for the remote monitoring service. No concerns were raised regarding nurse-led insertion of ICMs with a long-sensing vector.