Introduction
Chronic Right Ventricular Pacing and Its Deleterious Effects
Pathophysiology of the Detrimental Effects of Right Ventricular Pacing
Alternate Right Ventricular Pacing Sites
Study |
n
| Inclusion criteria | Treatment | Follow-up | Endpoint | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PAVE [46] | 184 | Persistent AF and AV node ablation | CRT group (n = 81) RV group (n = 81) | 6 months | LVEF 6MWT distance | RV group reduction 6MWT distance (P = 0.04) and LVEF (P = 0.03) vs CRT |
Ablate and pace in AF [47] | 186 | Persistent/permanent AF | CRT (n = 97) RV (n = 89) | Median 20 months | Composite primary endpoint: death from HF, hospitalization for HF or worsening HF | Composite primary endpoint CRT 11% vs. RV group 26% (P = 0.005). CRT group less worsening HF (P = 0.0001) and less HF hospitalizations |
DAVID [5] | 506 | Dual-chamber ICD indication | ICD VVI 40 bpm (back up pacing) (n = 256) ICD DDDR 70 bpm (n = 250) | Median 8.4 months | Composite primary endpoint: death from HF or first hospitalization for HF | 1-year survival free of composite endpoint 83.9% patients with VVI-40 vs 73.3% for DDDR-70 (relative hazard, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.06–2.44) |
MOST [23] | 2010 | PPM for sinus node dysfunction | Single-chamber VVIR pacing (n = 632) vs. DDDR pacing (707) for SND | Median 33.1 months | HF hospitalization and AF | RV pacing DDDR mode > 40% time led to 2.6-fold increased risk HF hospitalization vs. lower % pacing (normal baseline QRS duration, despite preservation of AV synchrony, in SND patients) |
PREVENT HF [48] | 108 | Indication for pacing with LVEF > 50% and expected RV pacing of ≥ 80% | CRT (n = 50) RV apical (n = 58) | 12 months | LVEDV | No significant difference between CRT and RV pacing in LVEDV. No change in LVEF, LVESV, or HF events |
PACE [49] | 177 | LVEF ≥ 45% Standard bradycardia indications for pacing | CRT (n = 89) RV apical (n = 88) | Up to 2 years | LVESV LVEF | LVESV and LVEF deteriorated in RV apical group vs. no change CRT group, significant difference of 9.9% points between groups at 2-year follow-up (p < 0.001) |
HOBIPACE [50] | 30 | Permanent RV pacing indication LVEDD ≥ 60 mm LVEF ≤ 40% | Run-in phase then randomized to 3 months RV pacing then 3 months CRT or vice versa | 3 months with crossover to complimentary pacing mode | LVESV LVEF Peak oxygen consumption | Greater improvement in QoL, LVEF, maximal and submaximal exercise capacity CRT group vs. RV pacing group |
COMBAT [51] | 60 | Standard RV pacing indication for AV block LVEF ≤ 40%, NYHA II–IV | Group A: RV pacing, then CRT, then RV pacing Group B: CRT, then RV pacing, then CRT | Minimum 3 months each mode | NYHA class and QoL score | In patients with systolic HF and AV block requiring permanent ventricular pacing, CRT was superior to RV pacing |
BLOCK HF [14••] | 691 | AV block first to third HF NYHA I–III LVEF ≤ 50% | CRT (n = 349) RV pacing (n = 342) | Mean 37 months | Composite primary endpoint: time to death any cause, urgent care visit for HF requiring IV Rx, or ≥ 15% increase LVESV index | Primary outcome 190/342 pts. (55.6%) RV pacing group, vs. 160/349 pts. (45.8%) in CRT group. CRT group significantly lower incidence primary outcome vs. RV pacing group (HR, 0.74; 95% credible interval, 0.60–0.90) |
BioPace preliminary results [52••] | 1810 | Indication for ventricular PPM according to guidelines or anticipated high frequency of V pacing | CRT (n = 902) RV pacing (n = 908) | Mean 5.6 years | Composite primary endpoint: first hospitalization due to heart failure or time to death | No statistically significant difference between CRT and RV pacing for composite primary endpoint (preliminary results) |
Protect PACE [38•] | 240 | High-grade AV block requiring > 90% RV pacing with preserved LVEF > 50% | RV apical pacing (n = 120) RVHS pacing (n = 120) | 2 years | Intra-patient change in LVEF | At 2 years, LVEF decreased in both RV apical (57 ± 9 to 55 ± 9%, P = 0.047) and septal groups (56 ± 10 to 54 ± 10%, P = 0.0003). No significant difference in intra-patient change LVEF between confirmed apical and septal lead position (P = 0.43) |
BLOCK-HF and BioPace Studies
The Role of CRT in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing AV Node Ablation
ESC recommendation | Class | Level |
---|---|---|
CRT is recommended over RV pacing for patients in sinus rhythm or AF, with HFrEF of any NYHA functional class, who have an indication for ventricular pacing and high-degree AV block, in order to reduce morbidity. | I | A |
CRT is recommended over RV pacing in patients with HFrEF who require pacing with a high-degree of AV block. | I | A |
Pacing modes that avoid inducing or worsening ventricular dyssynchrony should be considered for patients with HFrEF who require ventricular pacing without high-degree AV block. | IIa | C |