What is Cardiomems (CardioMEMS, a brand of implantable hemodynamic monitor)?

From the Guidelines

CardioMEMS is a wireless heart failure monitoring system that helps manage patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III heart failure by measuring pulmonary artery pressure, allowing for early intervention and reducing heart failure hospitalizations by up to 37% in clinical trials. The system consists of a small pressure sensor implanted into the pulmonary artery during a minimally invasive procedure, as seen in the CHAMPION trial 1. Once implanted, patients use a special pillow-like electronic unit at home to take daily readings, which are wirelessly transmitted to their healthcare team. This proactive approach typically involves adjusting medications like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or beta-blockers before the patient experiences symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. Key benefits of the CardioMEMS system include:

• Reducing heart failure hospitalizations by up to 37% in clinical trials 2
• Allowing healthcare providers to detect and address worsening heart failure days or weeks before symptoms become apparent to the patient
• Enabling patients to take daily readings at home, promoting patient engagement and empowerment
• Requiring only local anesthesia for the implant procedure, which takes about 20-30 minutes, and allowing patients to usually go home the same day. The sensor is designed to last a lifetime with no batteries to replace, making it a convenient and low-maintenance option for patients. Overall, the CardioMEMS system has been shown to be an effective tool in managing heart failure and reducing hospitalizations, as demonstrated in studies such as the CHAMPION trial 1 and a 2019 meta-analysis 2.

From the Research

Overview of Cardiomems

• Cardiomems, also known as CardioMEMS, is a brand of implantable hemodynamic monitor used to manage heart failure (HF) patients 3, 4, 5.
• It is a permanent, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based pressure sensor implanted in the pulmonary artery to monitor pressure and guide HF management.

Functionality and Benefits

• The CardioMEMS Heart Sensor allows for remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures, providing clinicians with actionable information to optimize medications and improve outcomes 4.
• Studies have shown that PA pressure-guided HF management using CardioMEMS reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) 4.
• The use of CardioMEMS has been associated with a significant reduction in HF hospitalizations and 30-day readmissions 3, 5.

Clinical Applications

• CardioMEMS is used in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III HF, who have had a previous HF hospitalization 3.
• The device is implanted in the pulmonary artery and allows for daily transmission of pressure readings, which can be used to guide medication adjustments and other treatment decisions 5.
• The use of CardioMEMS is part of a broader strategy to prevent HF hospitalizations and improve outcomes in patients with HF, which also includes optimizing guideline-directed medical therapies and utilizing systems-based practices 6.