Permanent Pacemaker Patients Research Articles

Clinical significance and prognostic value of right bundle branch block in permanent pacemaker patients.

In patients undergoing pacemaker implantation with no prior history of heart failure (HF), the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) has been identified as an independent predictor of HF-related death or hospitalization, while the prognostic significance of right bundle branch block (RBBB) remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the long-term risk of all-cause mortality in patients with a standard indication for permanent pacing and normal or moderately depressed left ventricular function when RBBB is detected at the time of implantation. We retrospectively enrolled 1348 consecutive patients who had undergone single- or dual-chamber pacemaker implantation at the study center, from January 1990 to December 2022. Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% or a prior diagnosis of HF were excluded. The baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed an RBBB in 241 (18%) and an LBBB in 98 (7%) patients. During a median follow-up of 65 [25th-75th percentile: 32-117] months, 704 (52%) patients died. The combined endpoint of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization was reached by 173 (13%) patients. On multivariate analysis, RBBB was confirmed as an independent predictor of death [hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.63; P = 0.005]. However, when considering the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization, this endpoint was independently associated with LBBB (hazard ratio, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.38-3.29; P < 0.001), but not with RBBB. In patients with standard pacemaker indications and normal or moderately depressed left ventricular function, the presence of basal RBBB was an independent predictor of mortality. However, it was not associated with the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization.

Clinical significance and prognostic value of right bundle branch block in permanent pacemaker patients

Abstract Aim In patients undergoing pacemaker implantation with no prior history of heart failure (HF), the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) has been identified as an independent predictor of HF-related death or hospitalization, while the prognostic significance of right bundle branch block (RBBB) remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the long-term risk of all-cause mortality in patients with a standard indication for permanent pacing and normal or moderately depressed left ventricular function when RBBB is detected at the time of implantation. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 1348 consecutive patients who had undergone single- or dual-chamber pacemaker implantation at the study center, from January 1990 to December 2022. Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% or a prior diagnosis of HF were excluded. Results The baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed an RBBB in 241 (18%) and an LBBB in 98 (7%) patients. During a median follow-up of 65 [25th-75th percentile: 32-117] months, 704 (52%) patients died. The combined endpoint of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization was reached by 173 (13%) patients. On multivariate analysis, RBBB was confirmed as independent predictor of death (Hazard Ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.09–1.63; P=0.005). However, when considering the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization, this endpoint was independently associated with LBBB (Hazard Ratio, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.38–3.29; P&amp;lt;0.001), but not with RBBB. Conclusions In patients with standard pacemaker indications and normal or moderately depressed LV function the presence of basal RBBB was an independent predictor of mortality. However, it was not associated with the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization.Time to event

PO-03-110 NEW INSIGHTS FROM HIS VENTRICULAR INTERVALS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TAVR AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PERMANENT PACING

Trans catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) represents a revolutionary treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at high surgical risk. The rate of periprocedural complications has decreased over time. However, the incidence of conduction disease requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation has failed to decrease. The decision for PPM for conduction disease post TAVR is usually made based on ECG. It’s not uncommon for patients with conduction disease without evidence for infra-nodal block to receive a PPM, and pacing has been shown to have deleterious effects. To assess the utility of His Ventricular Interval (HVI) studies in predicting the need for PPM implantation. We included patients who underwent assessment of the AV nodal (AH interval) and the HVI pre and/or post TAVR and were continuously monitored until discharge and after discharge for 2 weeks. Repeat EP study was performed in the presence of new conduction disease during in-hospital or as an outpatient. PPM was recommended in the presence of complete heart block (CHB), infra-Hisian block or with an HV > 70 ms (discretion of the physician). Patients receiving PPM before 30 days were documented. Total of 71 patients who had pre and post TAVR EP study had follow up for at least 30 days. The Cohort predominantly male with an average age of 77 years. Forty-six patients received Edwards and 25 Medtronic valve. A total of 6 patients received PPM, 5 out of 6 within the index hospitalization, and 1 patient 5 days post discharge. Four out of 6 patients with PPM had Edwards and 2 out of 6 had Medtronic valve. Four out of 6 patient who received PPM, developed CHB during TAVR and HVI post TAVR was not measured; in 1 patient HVI could not be measured reliably because of atrial fibrillation and the other had normal pre and post HVI. Ten of 71 patients had pre-existing Bundle Branch Block (BBB). Four had right bundle branch block (RBBB) of which 1 required PPM, and 6 had left bundle branch block (LBBB) of which 1 required PPM. Six of 71 patients had new BBB post TAVR. 5 developed LBBB of which 2 required PPM, and 1 developed RBBB of which none required PPM In patients undergoing TAVR, pre and post TAVR EP study is very useful in determining the need for PPM. In the absence of significant infra-Hisian disease, Pre-TAVR RBBB or LBBB and new RBBB or LBBB are not an indication for PPM.Tabled 1HVI in pre-existing (Old)and post TAVR (new) Bundle Branch block (PO-03-110)Pre-existing LBBBPre-existing RBBBPost-TAVR (new) LBBBPost-TAVR (new) RBBBPatientPre-HVI (ms)Post-HVI (ms)PPM (yes/no)PatientPre-HVI (ms)Post-HVI (ms)PPM (yes/no)PatientPre-HVI (ms)Post-HVI (ms)PPM (yes/no)PatientPre-HVI (ms)Post-HVI (ms)PPM (yes/no)16063no155CHByes15255no14043no25060no25053no24871no35558yes35055no35058yes44548no44045no46063no55560no54859yes66373no Open table in a new tab

Feasibility study of temporary permanent pacemaker in patients with conduction block after TAVR.

Limited data exist on the use of temporary permanent pacemaker (TPPM) to reduce unnecessary PPM in patients with high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aims to determine the feasibility of TPPM in patients with HAVB after TAVR to provide prolonged pacing as a bridge. One hundred and eleven consecutive patients undergoing TAVR were screened from August 2021 to June 2022. Patients with HAVB eligible for PPM were included. TPPM were used in these patients instead of conventional temporary pacing or early PPM. Patients were followed up for 1 month. Holter and pacemaker interrogation were used to determine whether to implant PPM. Twenty one patients met the inclusion criteria for TPPM, of which 14 patients were third-degree AVB, 1 patient was second-degree AVB, 6 patients were first degree AVB with PR interval > 240 ms and LBBB with QRS duration > 150 ms. TPPM were placed on the 21 patients for 35 ± 7 days. Among 15 patients with HAVB, 26.7% of them (n = 4) recovered to sinus rhythm; 46.7% (n = 7) recovered to sinus rhythm with bundle branch block. The remains of 26.7% patients (n = 4) still had third-degree AVB and received PPM. For patients with first-degree AVB and LBBB, PR interval shortened to < 200 ms in all 6 patients and LBBB recovered in 2 patients. TPPM were successfully removed from all patients and no procedure-related adverse events occurred. TPPM is reliable and safe in the small sample of patients with conduction block after TAVR to provide certain buffer time to distinguish whether a PPM is necessary. Future studies with larger sample are needed for further validation of the current results.

Effect of a Health Education Nursing Intervention on Permanent Pacemaker Patients’ Adherence to Care Practices and Daily Activities

Effect of a Health Education Nursing Intervention on Permanent Pacemaker Patients’ Adherence to Care Practices and Daily Activities

Systemic immune-inflammation index as a tool for predicting the need for a permanent pacemaker in patients with drug-induced atrioventricular block.

Drug-induced atrioventricular block (AVB) is generally considered reversible and does not require a permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM). However, some studies have demonstrated a failure of AVB cessation even when the inducing agent has been discontinued. This study has investigated the use of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) to predict irreversible drug-induced AVB after drug discontinuation. Files of patients with high-degree AVB that required a temporary pacemaker (TPM) were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty-three patients in which AVB was drug-induced were included in the study. The patients were divided into the following two groups: (1) those whose AVB reversed after discontinuation of the related drug, and (2) those in which AVB did not reverse. AVB reversed in 24 patients (38%) after the inducing agent was discontinued while in the remaining 39 patients (62%) PPM was required. The most common drugs to induce AVB were beta-blockers (n=46, 73%). Follow-up time with TPM was significantly longer in the irreversible group (2.91±1.05days vs. 4.94±2.15days, p<.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SII (odds ratio [OR]=1.002; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.000-1.003; p=.01) was an independent predictor of the requirement for a PPM. An SII>752.05 was found to be a predictor of irreversible AVB requiring PPM with a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 75% (receiving-operating characteristics [ROC] area under the ROC curve [AUC]: 0.704, 95% CI=0.570-0.838, p=.007). Approximately 2/3 of drug-induced high-degree AVBs are irreversible. SII is an easily available and cheap inflammatory biomarker that can be used to predict irreversible AVB.

Outcomes of temporary pacing using active fixation leads and externalized permanent pacemakers in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic device infection and pacemaker dependency

The incidence of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections is increasing. Complete device and lead removal are recommended for all patients with definite CIED system infection. In patients with pacemaker dependency, temporary pacing before reimplantation is necessary. In this study, temporary pacing using active fixation leads (TPAFL) was evaluated. We reviewed data from consecutive patients implanted with TPAFL after transvenous lead extraction at our center between November 2014 and October 2020. TPAFL were placed in 334 patients. The mean age was 64.5 ± 16.4 years and 76.3% were males. Two hundred and forty (72%) were treated due to local pocket infection and 94 (28%) systemic infection. The indication for temporary pacing was sick sinus syndrome in 135 (40.4%) patients and complete or high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block in 199 (59.6%) patients. The most common access site for lead implantation was the ipsilateral subclavian or axillary vein (78.9%). A new permanent CIED was reimplanted at 10.3 ± 9.2 days (median 10, range: 2-70) after implantation of the temporary pacing. There were five (1.5%) adverse events related to the temporary pacing during hospitalization. The median follow-up duration was 23.1 months (interquartile range [IQR], 7.2-43.4 months). Only one patient (0.3%) developed recurrent CIED infection. TPAFL is safe and effective in pacemaker-dependent patients after infected CIED removal. The rate of temporary pacing-related complications, including lead dislodgment and reinfection of CIED is relatively low.

Effect of a Health Education Nursing Intervention on Permanent Pacemaker Patients’ Adherence to Care Practices and Daily Activities

Effect of a Health Education Nursing Intervention on Permanent Pacemaker Patients’ Adherence to Care Practices and Daily Activities

Troubleshooting a pacemaker output failure: A case report

The indications for permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation are rapidly expanding resulting in an increasing number of patients receiving PMs. Such PM patients need a good quality medical care. The follow up of these patients and their devices places a heavy burden on cardiology clinics with significant implications for the already stretched hospital resources. This has resulted in increased reliance on the options of automatic and continuous adjustments that the modern PMs offer. One such feature is the ‘automatic sensitivity function’ or ‘AutoSense’ which when turned on, monitors the amplitude of the intrinsic R wave and P wave and continuously adjusts the sensitivity, as a function of measured amplitudes, to avoid undersensing or oversensing. We are describing a case in which oversensing occurred even though the pacemaker's ‘AutoSense’ function was kept on and hence was misunderstood to be a lead problem and was advised ventricular lead replacement.

Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation Burden and Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Permanent Pacemakers.

Unlike clinical atrial fibrillation (AF), the significance of subclinical AF (SCAF) burden in patients with permanent pacemakers has not been fully evaluated. We investigated whether the SCAF burden was associated with increased risks of composite adverse outcomes, including progression to clinical AF, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure-related hospitalization, or cardiac death, in patients without previous AF. To quantify the 6-month SCAF burden, the total cumulative time spent in SCAF during every 6-month follow-up was summed. During the median 5.2-year follow-up, 496 consecutive permanent pacemaker patients were classified into the no SCAF (no SCAF episode in any device analysis; n=152), low-burden SCAF (6-month SCAF <24 hours in at least one device analysis; n=287), or high-burden SCAF (6-month SCAF ≥24 hours in at least 1 device analysis; n=57) groups. The risk of composite adverse outcomes was greatest in the high-burden SCAF group (P<0.001) and was primarily driven by progression to clinical AF (P<0.001) and ischemic stroke (P<0.001). The presence of high-burden SCAF, which always preceded ischemic stroke events, was independently associated with composite adverse outcomes (odds ratio=20.1 [95% CI, 7.60-52.7], P<0.001) and progression to clinical AF (odds ratio, 36.2 [95% CI, 15.9-87.8], P<0.001). In permanent pacemaker patients without preexisting AF, the presence of high-burden SCAF was closely associated with increased risks of composite adverse outcomes, particularly progression to clinical AF and ischemic stroke. Therefore, prospective studies deserve to be performed on the optimal anticoagulation therapy for permanent pacemaker patients with both high-burden SCAF and high stroke risk.

Burden of Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Post Aortic Valve Replacement in Australia

Transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVIs) are generally safer than surgical aortic valve replacements (SAVRs), but arrhythmias necessitating permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation are more common with TAVIs than SAVRs. Current evidence suggests that there is a difference in the risk of post-procedural PPM between TAVIs with balloon-expandable valves (BEVs) and TAVIs with self-expanding valves (SEVs). This study sought to compare the likely health and economic burden of PPMs in patients undergoing SAVRs, TAVI-BEVs and TAVI-SEVs in Australia.

The cumulative effects and clinical safety of repeat magnetic resonance imaging on an MRI-conditional pacemaker system at 1.5 tesla.

BackgroundStudies have demonstrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety in the presence of MRI-conditional permanent pacemakers (PPM). However, since patients’ care may require serial MRIs, it is necessary to evaluate device safety and performance after multiple scans.ObjectivesWe evaluated safety and performance of MRI-conditional PPMs after serial MRIs over various anatomic regions performed during a multicenter, prospective, single-arm study (ProMRI).MethodsProMRI was a multiphase observational study designed to evaluate PPM performance after MRI scans. Our study evaluated PPM function in a cohort of patients who underwent multiple 1.5-T MRI scans. Selected patients underwent separate head, chest, and lumbar spine MRIs. Pacing capture threshold (PCT), lead impedance (LI), sensing amplitude, and battery capacity were collected before and after scanning. Freedom from serious adverse device effects (SADE) through 1 month post MRI served as a primary endpoint. Changes in PPM function parameters, including threshold success rate and sensing attenuation, were analyzed for statistical significance and clinical relevance.ResultsIn 81 patients no adverse events or SADE occurred. Statistically significant changes in ventricular PCT (0.034 ± 0.15 V) immediately after, ventricular LI immediately after (-18.7 ± 44.2 Ω) and 1 month post phase B (-19.8 ± 44.9 Ω), and atrial sensing attenuation immediately after (-0.27 ± 0.92 mV) and 1 month post phase B (-0.22 ± 0.92 mV) were noted. However, these changes were not clinically relevant in degree.ConclusionThese results demonstrate the safety and performance of the ProMRI PPM in patients undergoing 3 serial MRIs over various anatomic regions.

Conduction disorders after aortic valve replacement: what is the real impact of sutureless and rapid deployment valves?

Although sutureless and rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (SURD-AVR) has been associated with an increased rate of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation compared to conventional AVR (c-AVR), the predictors of new conduction abnormalities remain to be clarified. This study aimed to identify risk factors for conduction disorders in patients undergoing AVR surgery. Data from 243 patients receiving minimally invasive AVR were prospectively collected. SURD-AVR was performed in 103 (42.4%) patients and c-AVR in 140 (57.6%). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of new-onset conduction disorders, defined as first degree atrioventricular (AV) block, advanced AV block requiring PPM implantation, left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), left bundle branch block (LBBB) and right bundle branch block (RBBB). The unadjusted comparison revealed that SURD-AVR was associated with a higher rate of advanced AV block requiring PPM when compared with c-AVR (10.5% vs. 2.1%, P=0.01). After adjusting for other measured covariates (OR: 1.6, P=0.58) and for the estimated propensity of SURD-AVR (OR: 5.1, P=0.1), no significant relationship between type of AVR and PPM implantation emerged. On multivariable analysis, preoperative first-degree AV block (OR: 6.9, P=0.04) and RBBB (OR: 6.9, P=0.03) were independent risk factors for PPM. Subgroup analysis of patients with normal preoperative conduction revealed similar incidence of PPM between SURD-AVR and c-AVR (1.3% vs. 1.9%, P=0.6). When compared with c-AVR, SURD-AVR was associated with a greater incidence of postoperative new onset LBBB (18.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.001). This finding was confirmed after adjusting for the estimated propensity of SURD-AVR (OR: 6.3, P=0.009). Our study revealed that the risk of PPM implantation in patients receiving surgical AVR is heavily influenced by the presence of pre-existing conduction disturbances rather than the type of valve prosthesis. Conversely, SURD-AVR emerged as an independent predictor for LBBB and was associated with an increased risk of PPM in patients presenting with RBBB.

Risk factors concerning complications following permanent pacemaker implantation for patients on antithrombotic therapy: a cohort study

The objective of this study was to identify the complications and associated factors presented by patients after pacemaker implantation, according to a regimen of antithrombotic therapy or without it. This...

CRT-600.26 Vascular Outcomes in Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Previously Placed Permanent Pacemaker Patients

There is an increased incidence of pacemaker placement after TAVR when compared to SAVR. Most of the complications after pacemaker placement are acute, but late complications have also been reported. No studies to date have reported vascular outcomes after TAVR or SAVR in previously placed permanent

Rational and design of the Baseline Interatrial block and Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (BIT) registry

BackgroundAortic stenosis (AS) is currently the most frequent heart valve disease. Symptomatic severe AS has a poor prognosis and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is becoming the therapy of choice in these patients. Changes in the conduction tissue after the procedure constitute one of the main limitations of TAVI, with a frequent need for a definitive pacemaker. Interatrial block (IAB) is defined as a prolonged P-wave duration and is related with atrial fibrosis. The presence of IAB could be a marker of conduction tissue abnormalities at other levels. No study has specifically analyzed the role of IAB as a predictor of the need for permanent pacemaker in patients with AS undergoing TAVI. MethodsThe Baseline Interatrial block and Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (BIT) registry will be performed in approximately 3000 patients with severe AS treated with TAVI. A centralized analysis of baseline ECGs will study the presence and type of IAB and other ECG data (rhythm, P-wave duration, PR and QRS intervals/intraventricular conduction disorders). Clinical follow-up will be carried out by local researchers. The primary endpoint will be the requirement of permanent pacemaker during post-TAVI hospitalization. As secondary objectives, the incidence of new onset AF, stroke, or mortality during follow-up will be analyzed. Secondary endpoints will include the incidence of new onset AF, stroke, or mortality during follow-up. ConclusionThe BIT registry will study, for the first time, the influence of previous IAB in the need of permanent pacemaker after TAVI: This large registry will also provide information regarding the association of this and other ECG parameters with prognosis.

A novel ECG-based algorithm to determine right ventricular lead placement in permanent pacemaker patients (RVpace study).

Fluoroscopy guidance alone is not sufficient for the accurate localization of the pacing lead (PL) in the right ventricle (RV) during implantation of the cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). The aim of this study was to create a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithm based on paced QRS (pQRS) morphology to accurately localize PL position in the RV. Thirty consecutive patients scheduled for catheter ablation of right heart arrhythmias were enrolled. After the elimination of index arrhythmia pacing from the RV interventricular septum (IVS), apex and free wall was performed and pQRS were recorded. The pacing site was verified both by fluoroscopy and transthoracic echocardiography. After a careful analysis of pQRS, a stepwise algorithm was developed to aid the proper positioning of the PL in RV. The algorithm was later prospectively validated in 31 pacemaker patients undergoing an elective generator exchange. A clear R wave in I, II, and V5 leads indicated proximal IVS. For a reliable indication of other RV sites, four ECG leads were crucial I, II, V5, and V6. A prospective evaluation of the algorithm revealed 90.3% agreement between RV lead localization obtained by ECG and echocardiography, with sensitivity of 92.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83.2%-100.0%) and a positive predictive value of 96.0% (95% CI, 89.0%-100.0%) for desired lead locations in RV. A simple ECG algorithm can reliably differentiate between the sites of permanent PL implantation in the RV in CIED recipients.

Prevalence and clinical significance of left bundle branch block according to classical or strict definition criteria in permanent pacemaker patients.

Previous studies have shown that the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with an increased risk of cardiac mortality and heart failure (HF). Recently, new criteria to define strict LBBB have been proposed: QRS duration ≥140 ms for men and ≥130 ms for women, along with mid-QRS notching or slurring in ≥2 contiguous leads. We assessed the prevalence and prognostic significance of LBBB according to classical (QRS duration ≥120ms) and strict criteria in permanent pacemaker patients. We retrospectively enrolled 723 consecutive patients who had undergone single- or dual-chamber pacemaker implantation at the study center from July 2002 to December 2014. Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% or a prior diagnosis of HF were excluded. LBBB was reported in 54 (7%) patients, and strict-LBBB in 15 (2%) patients. During a median follow-up of 48 months (range, 18-92 months), 147 (20%) patients reached the combined endpoint of death or HF hospitalization. Patients with LBBB and those with strict-LBBB displayed significantly higher rates of death or HF hospitalization (log-rank test, all P < 0.0001). In particular, strict-LBBB was associated with the worst outcome. The presence of LBBB according to classical definition criteria (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.98, confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-3.19, P = 0.005) and to strict criteria (HR = 2.20; CI: 1.04-4.65; P = 0.039) were both confirmed as independent predictors of death or HF hospitalization after adjustment for relevant clinical covariates. Among patients who had undergone standard pacemaker implantation, the prevalence of LBBB was 7% according to classical definition criteria and 2% according to strict criteria. The presence of LBBB, and particularly of strict-LBBB, at the baseline predicted a poor outcome in terms of death or HF hospitalization.

392 - Ability of99mTc-DPD scintigraphy to predict conduction disorders requiring permanent pacemaker in patients with transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis

392 - Ability of99mTc-DPD scintigraphy to predict conduction disorders requiring permanent pacemaker in patients with transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis

Should we implant a permanent pacemaker in patients with left bundle branch block and PQ prolongation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation?

Should we implant a permanent pacemaker in patients with left bundle branch block and PQ prolongation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation?