This procedure can be used for monitoring the treatment of chronic heart failure because it works well and there are no serious concerns about its safety.
In chronic heart failure your heart muscle is weak and not able to pump blood around your body well enough. This causes pressure to increase in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that takes blood from the heart to the lungs). In this procedure, a small electronic pressure sensor is inserted through the skin (percutaneous) into a vein in the thigh or the neck and then into the pulmonary artery. The sensor sends daily blood pressure measurements to a monitor in your home. The monitor sends the measurements to your care team, who can assess whether your treatment needs adjusting. The aim is to manage treatment and reduce hospital admissions.
The NHS website may have information on your condition and treatment options.
You can search the NHS website for information about consultants and hospitals that offer this procedure.
Is this procedure right for me?
You should be included in making decisions about your care.
Your healthcare professionals should explain the risks and benefits of this procedure and how it is done. They should discuss your options and listen carefully to your views and concerns. They should offer you more information about the procedure. Your family or carers can be involved if you want or need them to be.
You will be asked to decide whether you agree (consent) to have the procedure. Find out more about giving consent to treatment on the NHS website.
Some questions to think about
- How many appointments will I need?
- What are the possible benefits? How likely am I to get them?
- What are the risks or side effects? How likely are they?
- Will I have to stay in hospital?
- What happens if it does not work or something goes wrong?
- What happens if I do not want the procedure?
- Are other treatments available?
More information
- NICE's information on interventional procedures guidance explains what an interventional procedure is and how we assess it.
- NICE’s information on interventional procedures recommendations explains what standard arrangements are.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-4341-8
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