Remote patient monitoring for chronic heart failure in France: When an innovative funding program (ETAPES) meets an innovative solution (Satelia® Cardio).

Introduction: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a telehealth activity to collect and analyze patient health or medical data. Its use has expanded in the past decade and has improved medical outcomes and care management of non-communicable chronic diseases. However, implementation of RPM into routine clinical activities has been limited. The objective of this study was to describe the French funding program for RPM (known as ETAPES) and one of the RPM solution providers (Satelia®) dedicated to chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A descriptive assessment of both the ETAPES funding program and Satelia® RPM solution was conducted. Data were collected from official legal documents and information that was publicly available online from the French Ministry of Health. Results and Discussion: ETAPES was formally created in 2016 based on previous legislation pertaining to the national health insurance funding strategy. However, it only started to operate in 2018. Patients with CHF were only eligible if they were at medium or high risk of re-hospitalization with a New York Heart Association (NYHA) score superior or equal to two and a BNP>100 pg/ml or NT pro BNP>1000 pg/ml. Medical monitoring was supported through the therapeutic education of a patient on the RPM model of care with a minimum of three training sessions during the first six months. The use of Satelia® Cardio is noteworthy since it relies only on symptomatic monitoring through which the patient manually reports their information by answering a simple questionnaire on a regular basis and does not rely on any connected devices. Conclusion: Innovative funding programs and solutions for RPM need real-world evaluation in the future.

Bilateral skeletonized mammary artery grafting: experience with 560 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the skeletonized technique of harvesting the internal thoracic artery improves the surgical results of bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting, we reviewed our 7-year experience with this technique. METHODS: Between July 1987 and December 1994, 560 patients received bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts and 236 additional grafts (average 2.6 +/- 0.6 anastomoses per patient). There were 515 men (92%) and the average age was 56.9 +/- 8.8 years. There were 63 diabetic patients (11.3%). During harvesting, the internal thoracic arteries were always totally skeletonized from the surrounding tissues without the use of electrocautery. RESULTS: Postoperative complications included reoperation for bleeding, 17 patients (3%), phrenic nerve paresis, 17 patients (3%), acute respiratory distress syndrome, 9 patients (1.6%), digestive complications, 8 patients (1.4%), neurologic complications, 6 patients (1.1%), and sternal complications, 6 patients (1.1%). No wound complications were observed in diabetic patients. The hospital mortality rate was 1.6% (9 patients, 2 cardiac causes). The early patency of internal thoracic artery grafts was 97.9%. Follow-up averages 29 +/- 20 months. There were 14 late deaths (4 cardiac causes). Angina recurred in 51 patients and the maximal stress test was abnormal in 47 patients. CONCLUSION: Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting with skeletonized harvesting carried low post-operative mortality and morbidity and therefore it could be applied routinely without the fear of increased complication rate.

Conservative management for an extensive type A aortic dissection complicating coronary angioplasty.

Aortic dissection is a recognized, though rare complication of percutaneous revascularization procedures. We report a case of an extensive type A dissection that occurred during an attempt to recanalize a chronic total occlusion of a right coronary artery. The patient was treated conservatively and was followed for 36 months, during which he remained well. We conclude that, even though surgery remains the preferred option, conservative management could also be considered in certain patients.

[Evaluation of 90 normal aortic valve prosthesis of the Saint-Jude Medical type by echocardiography]. / Evaluation par échocardiographie doppler de 90 prothèses valvulaires aortiques normales de type Saint-Jude Medical.

Between September 1986 and February 1989, ninety patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement were studied on the 15th postoperative day, in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at St Joseph's Hospital, Paris. Patients with a diastolic murmur, fever, significant, pericordial effusions and poor quality Doppler recordings were excluded. The aim of the study was to determine normal Doppler echocardiographic parameters of St Jude medical aortic valve prostheses. Maximum and mean transprosthetic pressure gradients were calculated by the simplified Bernoulli equation. Functional value surface area was assessed by the continuity equation using the diameter of the left ventricular output tract measured by 2D echocardiography (continuity) and the external diameter of the prostheses (modified surface area) to calculate the subaortic surface area. The transprosthetic pressure gradients G max and G mean were inversely correlated to the size of the prostheses (r = 0.42 and r = 0.45). The functional valve surface area calculated by the continuity method gave a poor correlation but this improved considerably when the diameter of the prosthesis (modified surface area) was considered. Finally, the permeability index which is the ratio of subaortic and transaortic velocities seemed to be a good parameter for assessing prosthetic valve function.

[Hemodynamic development of the auricular communication of the ostium secundum and sinus venosus type. Study of 1189 patients]. / Evolution hémodynamique de la communication auriculaire de type ostium secundum et sinus venosus. Etude de 1,189 patients.

The haemodynamic data of 1,189 subjects with an atrial septal defect catheterised between 1953 and 1983 at the Marie Lannelongue Surgical Center and at Broussais Hospital was reviewed. Sixty per cent were under 20 years of age and 40 per cent were 21 to 75 years of age. The defect was an ostium secundum type in 89 per cent and sinus venosus in 11 per cent of patients. The commonest associated cardiac malformation was a partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage which was present in 125 patients. Systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures decreased from a value slightly higher than normal between birth and 5 years of age to normal values between 5 and 20 years of age and then increased progressively to maximal values attained after 50 years of age (p less than 0.001). The proportion of patients with raised systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures increased with age after 20 years of age (p less than 0.001). A parallel increase in pulmonary blood flow was observed after 20 years of age, which was less marked than the increase in pressures, but nevertheless statistically significant (p less than 0.05). This increase in left to right shunt disappeared after 50 years of age. An increase in pulmonary resistances was observed after 20 years of age and persisted all through life (p less than 0.001). Two successive preoperative catheter studies were performed in 34 patients after a 6.4 +/- 4.7 years interval. In each patient, systolic pulmonary arterial pressures had increased and were significantly higher at the time of the second study (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Value and indication of the use of 2 internal mammary arteries in repeated coronary surgery]. / Intérêt et indication de l'utilisation des 2 artères mammaires internes dans la chirurgie coronaire redux.

Forty-nine patients who had coronary artery reoperations were divided into two groups: the 29 patients of the first group were operated conventionally with use of one internal mammary artery or a saphenous vein; the 20 patients of the second group were reoperated using both internal mammary arteries. Three patients (6%) died prematurely: two in the first and one in the second group. The rates of peri-operative infarction were 7% and 15% respectively. The average postoperative bleeding was 472 +/- 385 ml in the first group and 700 +/- 628 ml in the second group (NS). All patients are pauci-symptomatic and have a negative exercise stress test. The mortality and morbidity of coronary reoperation does not seem to be greater with double internal mammary artery bypass grafting. However, this technique should be reserved for patients who can derive long-term benefit from reoperation with arterial grafts, that is to say in patients in good clinical condition, less than 65 years of age with good left ventricular function. In these patients, double internal mammary artery bypass grafting may avoid a third operation for myocardial revascularisation.

[In coronary surgery can both internal mammary arteries be used systematically? Apropos of 560 patients]. / En chirurgie coronaire l'utilisation des deux artères mammaires internes peut-elle être systématique? A propos de 560 patients.

The grafts commonly used in coronary bypass surgery are the left internal mammary artery and the saphenous veins of the legs: the use of both internal mammary arteries, with potential long-term benefits, is only justified if the operative risk is not increased. Since 1987, the authors use both internal mammary arteries systematically in patients under 70 years of age and in good general condition. The retrospective analysis of 560 patients having undergone this surgery from 1987 to 1994 was undertaken to determine if this surgical option is justified without increased operative risk. The dissection of the mammary arteries is performed in a special manner by skeletonization technique. The total hospital complication rate was 12% with 9 deaths in the first 30 postoperative days (1.6%). Mediastinitis was observed in 6 patients (1.1%) Early angiographic controls showed a patent mammary graft rate of 98%. The use of both internal mammary arteries does not therefore increase postoperative morbidity or mortality. It may be proposed systematically in patients in good general condition and may provide long-term benefits in graft patency rates.

[Coronary artery bypass with 2 internal mammary arteries. Early clinical and angiographic results in 100 patients]. / Pontages coronaries avec les 2 artères mammaires internes. Résultats cliniques et angiographiques précoces chez 100 malades.

One hundred patients underwent coronary revascularisation with both internal mammary arteries between 1987 and 1990. The average age of the patients was 55 years. The left internal mammary was used in 97 of the 100 cases as a pediculated graft to revascularise the left anterior descending (66 cases), left lateral (27 cases) or a bissecting artery (4 cases). The right internal mammary was used as a pediculated graft in 51 cases and as a free graft to revascularise a left lateral (51 cases), left anterior descending (29 cases) or right coronary artery (20 cases). There was one death in the first 30 postoperative days. Morbidity was low with no cases of sternal infection. The average postoperative bleeding was 633 +/- 550 ml per patient. The incidence of phrenic nerve paralysis decreased from 36% in the first 50 patients to 6% in the second 50 patients. Angiography at the 10th postoperative day showed 4 occlusions out of 132 internal mammary arteries opacified (97% patency). Ninety four patients are asymptomatic and have negative exercise stress tests. Mortality and morbidity of coronary surgery using the two internal mammary arteries are therefore the same as those of conventional coronary surgery using saphenous veinar only one internal mammary artery, providing that it is reserved for patients in good general condition, under 65 years of age, without obesity or diabetes. This technique of coronary artery revascularization should provide better long-term results because of the high patency rate of the grafts.