Longitudinal Outcomes of Epicardial and Endocardial Pacemaker Leads in the Adult Fontan Patient

Cardiac implantable electronic devices in pediatric and congenital populations

Pediatric patients and children and adults with congenital heart disease often will require implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) for management of a variety of cardiac rhythm pathologies. The safe and effective use of CIEDs in these patients requires an awareness of important differences between this special population and the adult populations for whom these devices were primarily developed and in whom they have been most thoroughly studied. These include issues of body size and growth, anticipated lifespan, anatomical issues related to implantation and the epidemiology of underlying rhythm issues. In this paper, we discuss these issues in the context of the current state of the art in pediatric and congenital heart disease patients with respect to implant and lead extraction strategies, physiological cardiac pacing and resynchronization, ICD indications and use of transvenous and subcutaneous devices, and the use of implantable monitoring devices.

Device-related complications in a national pediatric cardiac implantable electronic device cohort stratified after age and implantation technique

BACKGROUND

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) can be implanted epicardially or transvenously in children. Both techniques involve procedure-specific complications, and evidence for the choice of technique in children of different ages is scarce.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to characterize a complete national pediatric cohort with de novo CIED implantation and compare the risks and causes of reintervention between transvenous and epicardial CIED recipients.

METHODS

This retrospective nationwide cohort study included all Danish children aged ≤15 years receiving a CIED from 1977 to 2021. Outcomes included time to first reintervention stratified by age and implantation technique. Reintervention was due to either battery depletion or lead or generator complication.

RESULTS

A total of 376 children received an epicardial (n = 131 [35%]) or transvenous (n = 245 [65%]) CIED with median [interquartile range] follow-up of 14 [6-21] years. Median age was 6 [1-11] years. For epicardial recipients, complication-driven reintervention was equal across age groups (P = .10), whereas among transvenous recipients the risk was significantly lower with increasing age (P <.001). Age-specific risk analyses revealed different risks for children aged <1 year, 1-8 years, and 9-15 years (Pinteraction <.001). For children <1 year, a complication-driven reintervention was more frequent for transvenous vs epicardial recipients (P <.001), whereas in children aged 9-15 years, the opposite was observed (P = .02).

CONCLUSION

Transvenous implantation in children <1 year and epicardial implantation in children 9-15 years was associated with higher risk of CIED-related complication leading to reintervention, whereas for children aged 1-8 years, the complication risk was similar between implantation techniques.

Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly in newborns. Advances in catheter and surgical techniques led to the majority of these patients surviving into adulthood, leading to evolving challenges due to the emergence of long-term complications such as arrhythmias. Interventional electrophysiology (EP) has had remarkable advances over the last few decades, and various techniques and devices have been explored to treat adult patients with CHD. This comprehensive review aims to summarize findings from recent studies exploring advances in the use of interventional electrophysiology to manage adult patients with CHD. While pacemaker therapy has some indications in adults with CHD, various long-term consequences include pacing-induced cardiomyopathy and complications requiring reintervention. Cardiac resynchronization therapy has shown promising results in some studies to treat CHD patients with heart failure, although further research to clarify guidelines is encouraged. Implantable cardiac defibrillators have demonstrated clear benefits in CHD patients and are indicated for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death, although selection criteria for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death are uncertain. Catheter ablation has also been used for various atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with CHD with high success rates, although the likelihood of success depends on patient characteristics and the type of arrhythmia, and multidisciplinary assessment is encouraged to improve the chance of successful therapy.

Brady-arrhythmias requiring permanent pacemaker implantation during and after staged Fontan palliation

BACKGROUND

Brady-arrhythmia requiring pacemaker implantation remains one of the Fontan-specific complications before and after total cavopulmonary connection.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 620 patients who underwent total cavopulmonary connection between 1994 and 2021 was performed to evaluate the incidence of brady-arrhythmia and the outcomes after pacemaker implantation. Factors associated with the onset of brady-arrhythmia were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients presented with brady-arrhythmia and required pacemaker implantation. Diagnosis included 16 sinus node dysfunctions, 29 atrioventricular blocks, and 7 junctional escape rhythms. Pacemaker implantation was performed before total cavopulmonary connection (n = 16), concomitant with total cavopulmonary connection (n = 8), or after total cavopulmonary connection (n = 28, median 1.8 years post-operatively). Freedom from pacemaker implantation following total cavopulmonary connection at 10 years was 92%. Twelve patients needed revision of electrodes due to lead dysfunction (n = 9), infections (n = 2), or dislocation (n = 1). Lead energy thresholds were stable, and freedom from pacemaker lead revision at 10 years after total cavopulmonary connection was 78%. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (odds ratio: 6.6, confidence interval: 2.0-21.5, p = 0.002) was identified as a factor associated with pacemaker implantation before total cavopulmonary connection. Pacemaker rhythms for Fontan circulation were not a risk factor for survival (p = 0.226), protein-losing enteropathy/plastic bronchitis (p = 0.973), or thromboembolic complications (p = 0.424).

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort of patients following total cavopulmonary connection, freedom from pacemaker implantation at 10 years was 92% and stable atrial and ventricular lead energy thresholds were observed. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries was at increased risk for pacemaker implantation before total cavopulmonary connection. Having a pacemaker in the Fontan circulation had no adverse effect on survival, protein-losing enteropathy/plastic bronchitis, or thromboembolic complications.

Multidisciplinary Management of Opioid Use-Related Infective Endocarditis: Treatment, QTc Values, and Cardiac Arrests due to Ventricular Fibrillation

(1) Background: The opioid epidemic has led to an increase in cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis (IE-CS) related to injection use of opioids (OUD) and other substances and a call for a coordinated approach to initiate substance use disorder treatment, including medication for OUD (MOUD), during IE-CS hospitalizations. We sought to determine the effects of the initiation of a multi-disciplinary endocarditis evaluation team (MEET) on MOUD use, electrocardiographic QTc measurements and cardiac arrests due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with OUD. (2) Methods and Results: A historical group undergoing IE-CS at Yale-New Haven Hospital prior to MEET initiation, Group I (43 episodes of IE-CS, 38 patients) was compared to 24 patients undergoing IE-CS after MEET involvement (Group II). Compared to Group l, Group II patients were more likely to receive MOUD (41.9 vs. 95.8%, p < 0.0001), predominantly methadone (41.9 vs. 79.2%, p = 0.0035) at discharge. Both groups had similar QTcs: approximately 30% of reviewed electrocardiograms had QTcs ≥ 470 ms and 17%, QTcs ≥ 500 ms. Cardiac arrests due to VF were not uncommon: Group I: 9.3% vs. Group II: 8.3%, p = 0.8914. Half occurred in the 1-2 months after surgery and were contributed to by pacemaker malfunction/ management and half were related to opioid use. (3) Conclusions: MEET was associated with increased MOUD (predominantly methadone) use during IE-CS hospitalizations without an increase in QTc prolongation or cardiac arrest due to VF compared to Group I, but events occurred in both groups. These arrests were associated with pacemaker issues or a return to opioid use. Robust follow-up of IE-CS patients is essential, as is further research to clarify the longer-term effects of MEET on outcomes.

Pacemaker implantation via femoral vein and successful arrhythmia management in an elderly patient with Fontan circulation: a case report

Background

The frequency of arrhythmias increases after the Fontan operation over time; atrial tachycardia (AT) and sinus node dysfunction (SND) are frequently observed.

Case summary

Our patient was 63-year-old woman who underwent a lateral tunnel Fontan operation for double outlet right ventricle at age 36. She experienced paroxysmal AT for 1 year, and antiarrhythmic medication was not feasible due to symptomatic SND. Computed tomography revealed a 45 mm-sized thrombus in the high right atrium (RA). The patient had three coexisting conditions: paroxysmal AT, symptomatic SND, and the right atrial thrombus, for which total cavopulmonary connection conversion and epicardial pacemaker implantation (PMI) would have been effective; however, given her age and comorbidities, surgical treatment was considered high risk. Catheter ablation was avoided because of the right atrial thrombus. Finally, a transvenous pacemaker was implanted via the right femoral vein to avoid the right atrial thrombus and severe venous tortuosity from the left subclavian vein to the RA. After PMI, the patient was prescribed amiodarone and bisoprolol for AT suppression. Atrial tachycardia occurred once in the third month after discharge. We increased the dose of amiodarone, and she has been tachycardia-free.

Discussion

Transvenous PMI must be considered in cases where open thoracic surgery or catheter ablation cannot be performed. This is the first report of transvenous PMI via the right femoral vein and successful AT and SND management in an elderly Fontan patient.

Complications and management of functional single ventricle patients with Fontan circulation: From surgeon's point of view

Fontan surgery by step-wise completing the isolation of originally mixed pulmonary and systemic circulation provides an operative approach for functional single-ventricle patients not amenable to biventricular repair and allows their survival into adulthood. In the absence of a subpulmonic pumping chamber, however, the unphysiological Fontan circulation consequently results in diminished cardiac output and elevated central venous pressure, in which multiple short-term or long-term complications may develop. Current understanding of the Fontan-associated complications, particularly toward etiology and pathophysiology, is extremely incomplete. What's more, ongoing efforts have been made to manage these complications to weaken the Fontan-associated adverse impact and improve the life quality, but strategies are ill-defined. Herein, this review summarizes recent studies on cardiac and non-cardiac complications associated with Fontan circulation, focusing on significance or severity, etiology, pathophysiology, prevalence, risk factors, surveillance, or diagnosis. From the perspective of surgeons, we also discuss the management of the Fontan circulation based on current evidence, including post-operative administration of antithrombotic agents, ablation, pacemaker implantation, mechanical circulatory support, and final orthotopic heart transplantation, etc., to standardize diagnosis and treatment in the future.

Telemonitoring with Electronic Devices in Patients with a Single Ventricle Anatomy

Background  A growing number of patients with a single ventricle anatomy, who had a Fontan palliation as a child, are now reaching adulthood. Many need an epimyocardial pacemaker system with an optional telemonitoring (TM) unit, which evaluates the collected data and sends it via Internet to the patient's physician. There are no data on the reliability and clinical relevance of these systems in this patient group.

Methods  We analyzed data in 48 consecutive patients (mean age 18 years, standard deviation 9 years) with a Fontan or Fontan-like palliation who received a cardiac implantable electronic device with a TM unit from Biotronik (Home Monitoring) or Medtronic (CareLink) between 2005 and 2020 with regard to the reliability and clinical relevance of the downloaded data.

Results  The observation period was from 4 months to 14 years (mean 7 years, standard deviation 3.9 years). A total of 2.9 event messages (EMs)/patient/month and 1.3 intracardiac electrogram recordings/patient/month were received. Two patients died during follow-up. The combination of regularly arriving statistical data and 313 clinically relevant EMs led to the modification of antiarrhythmic or diuretic medication, hospitalization with cardioversion or ablation, and cortisone therapy to avoid exit block in 21 (44%) patients.

Conclusion  TM is an instrument to receive functional and physiologic parameters of our Fontan patients. It provides the ability to respond early for signs of system failure, or arrhythmia, even if the patient is not experiencing any problems. It is a useful tool to manage this difficult patient population without frequent hospital visits.

Atrial pacing in Fontan patients: The effect of transvenous lead on clot burden

BACKGROUND

Transvenous permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is an available option for Fontan patients with sinus node dysfunction. However, the thrombogenic potential of leads within the Fontan baffle is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the clot burden in Fontan patients with a transvenous atrial PPM to those without a PPM and those with an epicardial PPM.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of all transvenous PPM implantations in Fontan patients followed at our institution (2000-2018). We performed frequency matching on Fontan type and age group. Primary outcome was identification of intracardiac clot, pulmonary embolus, or embolic stroke.

RESULTS

Of 1920 Fontan patients, 58 patients (median age 23 years; interquartile range [25th-75th percentiles] 14-33) at the time of transvenous PPM implantation and 174 matched subjects formed our cohort. The type of Fontan performed in case subjects was right atrium-pulmonary artery or right atrium-right ventricle conduit (54%), lateral tunnel (43%), and extracardiac (3%). The cumulative incidence of clot was highest in patients with transvenous PPM, followed by patients with epicardial PPM and no PPM (1.2 vs 0.87 vs 0.67 per 100 person-years of follow-up, respectively). In multivariable analysis, anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy were protective against clot and resulted in reduction of clot risk by 3-fold (incidence rate ratio 0.33; 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.53; P <.001).

CONCLUSION

In a large cohort of Fontan patients matched for age and Fontan type, patients with transvenous PPM had a higher but not statistically significant incidence of clot compared to those with no PPM and epicardial PPM. Patients treated with warfarin/aspirin had lower clot risk.

Performance of epimyocardial leads in patients with a single ventricle circulation

BACKGROUND

Cardiac pacing can be challenging after a Fontan operation, and limited data exist regarding strategies to plan these epimyocardial systems while minimizing the number of surgical procedures.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all our 47 patients (mean age 18 years, standard deviation 9 years) with a Fontan palliation who received an epimyocardial cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) between 2002 and 2020 with regard to the stability of the epimyocardial lead parameters and the incidence of system revisions.

RESULTS

Over the last 18 years, 84 implantations or revisions of the epimyocardial CIED in 47 Fontan patients were performed. Mean age at time of the first implantation was 9.4 (range 0.28-29.3) years. Follow-up period ranges from 0.11 to 18.2 (mean 7.7, standard deviation 4.2) years. A total of 123 pacing leads were implanted of which 99 are still active. From 2010 triple lead cardiac resynchronization devices were used in 17 patients to better cope with lead problems. The initial pacing threshold of the leads inactivated during this study period proved significantly higher (mean 1.66 V) than in the "all leads" group (mean 1.27 V, p = .0005) or the group of the still active leads (mean 1.17 V, p = .00004).

CONCLUSIONS

When implanted with a low pacing threshold, the bipolar epimyocardial electrodes show stable and good long-term results in young patients with a Fontan circulation. Resynchronization pacing systems and the prospective implantation of reserve leads may help to reduce the rate of resternotomies and provide a flexible concept to deal with lead failure.

Salvage of an epicardial lead in a pacemaker-dependent patient with Fontan palliation using an IS-1 extender

We present a case report of severed epicardial atrial lead salvage using an IS-1 lead extender. A 37-year-old male with single ventricle physiology, Fontan palliation, sinus node dysfunction, recurrent atrial tachycardias, and atrial fibrillation resulting in failing Fontan physiology presented with failure of the atrial pacing lead. The patient was initially paced with an epicardial system that had to be removed due to pocket infection, and the epicardial leads were cut and abandoned. Given his significant sinus node dysfunction he required atrial pacing to allow for rhythm control. The failing Fontan physiology of the patient precluded him from undergoing surgery for epicardial lead placement or a complex intravascular lead placement procedure (although anatomically feasible). We considered the option of salvaging the existing epicardial atrial leads to provide atrial pacing, allowing for rhythm control and improvement of his failing Fontan physiology as a bridge to a more permanent pacing solution. This case report is important because it demonstrates how a lead extender can be used to salvage a severed pacemaker lead. This may be useful for patients in whom implantation of new leads is not promptly feasible due to patient anatomy and/or clinical status.

Current spectrum, challenges and new developments in the surgical care of adults with congenital heart disease

Today, more than two thirds of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are adults. Cardiac surgery plays an essential role in restoring and maintaining cardiac function, aside from evolving medical treatment and catheter-based interventions. The aim of the present publication was to describe the spectrum of operations performed on adults with CHD (ACHD) by reviewing current literature. Currently, surgery for ACHD is predominantly valve surgery, since valvular pathologies are often either a part of the basic heart defect or develop as sequelae of corrective or palliative surgery. Surgical techniques for valve repair, established in patients with acquired heart disease (non-ACHD), can often be transferred to ACHD. New valve substitutes may help to reduce the number of redo operations. Most of valve operations yield good results in terms of survival and quality of life, with the precondition that the ventricular function is preserved. Heart failure due to end-stage CHD is the most frequent cause of mortality in ACHD. However, surgical treatment by means of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is still uncommon and the mortality exceeds the one following other operations in ACHD. Currently, different devices are used and new technical developments are in progress. However, there still is no ideal assist device available. Therefore, heart transplantation remains the only valid option for end-stage CHD. Despite higher early mortality following heart transplantation in ACHD compared to non-ACHD, the long-term survival compares favorably to non-ACHD. There is room for improvement by refining the indications, the time of listing, and the perioperative care of ACHD transplant patients. Sudden death is the second most frequent cause of mortality in ACHD. Ventricular tachycardia is the most frequent cause of sudden death followed by coronary artery anomaly. Due to the increasing awareness of physicians and the improved imaging techniques, coronary artery anomalies are coming more into the focus of cardiac surgeons. However, the reported experience is limited and it is currently difficult to provide a standardized and generally applicable recommendation for the indication and the adequate surgical technique. With the increasing age and complexity of ACHD, treatment of rhythm disturbances by surgical ablation, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation and resynchronisation gains importance. A risk score specifically designed for surgery in ACHD is among the newest developments in predicting the outcome of surgical treatment of ACHD. This evidence-based score, derived from and validated with data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database, enables comparison of risk-adjusted performance of the whole spectrum of procedures performed in ACHD and helps in understanding the differences in surgical outcomes. The score is thus a powerful tool for quality control and quality improvement. In conclusion, new developments in surgery for ACHD are currently made with regard to valve surgery, which comprises more than half of all operations in ACHD and in treatment of end-stage CHD, which still yields high mortality and morbidity.