The CardioMEMS Heart Failure Sensor: A Procedural Guide for Implanting Physicians

Abstract

The CardioMEMS heart failure system is a recent Food and Drug Administration approved device that can be implanted in patients with New York Heart Association class III heart failure and allows remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures. There is limited published information regarding the implantation procedure. Successful use of the CardioMEMS heart failure system requires an understanding of the technical issues surrounding the implantation procedure. The goal of the present review is to provide a summary of the implantation procedure, discuss the required imaging steps, review procedural supplies, and present a series of case studies to illustrate clinically relevant issues that may arise during sensor implantation.