Case presentation: implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker via the coronary sinus in a patient with triple valve replacement

Background

In patients with triple valve replacement developing third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB), the most appropriate approach for permanent pacemaker implantation remains questionable.

Case presentation

In this case presentation, we first described the approach of implantation of the cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) via one bipolar pacing lead in middle cardiac vein (MCV) and one quadripolar pacing lead in anterior interventricular vein (AIV) in a patient developing complete AVB, who had been previously diagnosed with rheumatic valvular heart disease with triple valve replaced. After the CRT-P implantation, the two pacing leads in coronary sinus (CS) provided a dual-site ventricular pacing from the anterior septum and posterior septum, which resulted in a narrow QRS complex and an increased ventricular synchrony. During the long-term follow-up, no deterioration of heart function was documented and pacing parameters remained good.

Conclusion

In this patient developing complete AVB with triple valve replaced, our approach of CRT-P implantation provides an effective and reliable ventricular pacing, and is an alternative option when transvenous right ventricular pacing, transseptal left ventricular pacing and transpericardial epicardium pacing are not possible. Further prospective randomized trials are required to confirm the efficiency of our approach of dual-site ventricular pacing by CRT-P in this kind patients.