key: cord-0744121-r1etqcem
authors: Kazemian, Pedram; Xu, Lei
title: First reported case of a longevity overestimation error in the new Medtronic tablet‐based device programmer
date: 2020-07-16
journal: J Arrhythm
DOI: 10.1002/joa3.12406
sha: 5d16e3d7eb0a01bc81e9671dd7022cc24e322bf7
doc_id: 744121
cord_uid: r1etqcem

With the advancement and miniaturization of mobile technologies, major device companies are replacing the traditional cardiac rhythm device programmers with smaller and more efficient tablet‐based systems. As clinicians rely on data obtained from multitude of these systems, it is imperative that they provide consistent, reliable, and reproducible results. In this case report, we illustrate, for the first time, a major discrepancy between remote monitoring data, a conventional device programmer, and the new tablet‐based Medtronic CareLink SmartSync Device Manager which erroneously overestimated the battery longevity in a pacemaker‐dependent patient whose device had reached Recommended Replacement Time (RRT) status.

Interrogations of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) using traditional device programmers have been the cornerstone of device monitoring and follow-up. Widespread adoption of remote monitoring has brought additional safety and convenience. In cases of national emergencies such as covid-19 virus pandemic, remote monitoring of CIEDs could safely substitute the majority of in-person visits whereby reducing the spread of the infection, a policy that we have adopted in our institution.

With the widespread availability of mobile technologies, there is a concerted effort by most major device manufacturers to replace the traditional cardiac device programmers with mobile platforms. Medtronic (MDT) CareLink SmartSync™ is the next-generation tablet-based device manager that uses BlueSync™ technology for wireless connectivity and functions as a portable device programmer and pacing system analyzer to replace the older Medtronic CareLink programmers. 1 Here, we report a case of a pacemaker-dependent patient whose MDT CRT-P device was identified to have reached RRT status according to the remote monitoring but interrogation of his device by the new CareLink SmartSync™ displayed a remaining longevity of 4 years. it is important to be cognizant of potential errors associated with any single software-based system and to exercise caution when the reports are not clinically consistent.

The authors declare no conflict of interests for this article. 

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