Monitoring intrathoracic impedance in heart failure patients: implications for inpatient use

Abstract

Monitoring of intrathoracic impedance to evaluate heart failure status has been used for some years in the outpatient setting. Recent technological advances in pacemaker and internal cardioverter-defibrillator design allow for easier access to that same information in the inpatient setting. This has implications for earlier and more precise recognition and treatment of heart failure in the hospitalized patient and for reducing hospital length of stay.