Cardiac resynchronization therapy using left ventricular septal pacing: An alternative to biventricular pacing?

Comparison of the safety and efficiency of temporary cardiac pacing methods during left bundle branch pacemaker implantation: Femoral vein pacing versus atrial spiral pacing with electrodes placed at the ventricle

BACKGROUND

Left bundle branch pacemakers (LBBPs) can better maintain ventricular electrical synchronization than traditional right ventricular pacing (RVP). Temporary cardiac pacing (TCP) is needed to ensure the safety of the operation in patients undergoing LBBP. Currently, there are two methods of installing TCP in conventional permanent pacemaker implantation.

HYPOTHESIS

To evaluate the safety and efficiency of replacing femoral vein pacing with atrial spiral pacing in the right ventricle for temporary cardiac pacing (TCP) during left bundle branch pacemaker (LBBP) implantation.

METHOD

A total of 179 patients who underwent TCP during LBBP were selected for retrospective analysis from April 2019 to 2021 and divided into two groups: the atrial spiral electrode group (n = 76) and the femoral vein electrode group (n = 103). The following were observed: operation time; radiation dose; radiation time; operation expenses; hospitalization time; pacemaker parameters immediately after the operation and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the operation; operation complications and femoral vein puncture point complications were observed in the two groups.

RESULTS

Compared to the femoral vein electrode group, the atrial electrode group had significantly lower operation times ([116.86 ± 24.63] versus [128.94 ± 25.27] min, p < 0.05), radiation doses ([805.07 ± 132.94] versus [846.42 ± 87.37] mgy, p < 0.05), and decreased risk of a displaced or dislodged temporary pacing electrode during the operation ([0.00%] versus [4.85%], p < 0.05). The atrial electrode group did not have significant operation costs or material costs associated with femoral vein temporary pacing electrode implantation. In addition, the atrial electrode group did not have an increased risk of pacemaker-related infections, and the parameters of the pacemaker were unaffected. However, some puncture point complications appeared in the femoral vein electrode group (8 cases of local subcutaneous hematoma, 3 cases of pseudoaneurysms, 3 cases of arteriovenous fistula).

CONCLUSION

The replacement of the femoral vein pacing electrode with an atrial spiral pacing electrode in the right ventricle for TCP during LBBP implantation was safe and effective.

Anatomical and histological assessment of left bundle branch area pacing in human heart with refractory heart failure

As an emerging pacing technique, left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has served as a physiological pacing modality that overcomes the limitations of His bundle pacing (HBP) or right ventricular pacing. Three patients with terminal heart failure who were waiting for heart transplantation and met the indications of pacemaker implantations received LBBAP. Symptoms were relieved and stabilized and eventually received heart transplantation. Diseased hearts from the recipients were dissected post‐transplantation, and the direct visual of pacing lead locations in the interventricular septum were evaluated, and the histopathological examination around the lead was conducted for the first time in human. As a result, we found that the locations of LBBAP leads were matched with fluoroscopic views during the procedure and Masson's staining showed extensive fibrosis occur around the lead but did not result in high thresholds.

Bradyarrhythmias and Physiologic Pacing in the ICU

Bradyarrhythmias represent a common pathology in the intensive care unit (ICU) with etiologies of varying severity. Treatment has often been focused on correcting underlying causes and may require pacing for urgent hemodynamic support. In recent years, there has been interest in physiologic pacing modalities which avoid the dyssynchrony from right ventricular (RV) only pacing. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) through biventricular pacing is a well-established device-based electrical therapy in patients with wide QRS and heart failure. Recently, it has been shown that biventricular pacing may also be pursued for hemodynamic rescue in the ICU setting. Efforts to re-engage the conduction system with His bundle pacing or further downstream have also emerged as alternative means to deliver resynchronization, with early applications in the ICU now being reported. The goal of the review is to examine bradyarrhythmia causes and management in the ICU as well as investigate new approaches in physiologic pacing and their potential roles in critically ill patients.