Regional myocardial perfusion during chronic biventricular pacing and after acute change of the pacing mode in patients with congestive heart failure and bundle branch block treated with an atrioventricular sequential biventricular pacemaker.
BACKGROUND
Biventricular (BiV) pacing has been found to improve systolic function and exercise tolerance in patients with severe congestive heart failure and bundle branch block. The mechanisms behind this beneficial effect is still not sufficiently clarified.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the regional myocardial perfusion (MP) during BiV pacing and after acute change of the pacing mode to conventional dual chamber (DDD) pacing, and single chamber atrial (AAI) pacing in patients with severe congestive heart failure and prolonged QRS width treated with chronic BiV pacing.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients (age 63+/-7 years, 13 male) were evaluated 13+/-7 months after implantation of a triple-chamber biventricular pacemaker. MP was quantified with 13N-labeled ammonia positron emission tomography during BiV pacing, DDD pacing, and AAI pacing. MP was assessed in the anterior, lateral, inferior, and septal regions, and the global mean MP was calculated. Clinical assessment was performed before pacemaker implantation and after at least 3 months of BiV pacing including a 6-min walk test (WT), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class functional score and echocardiography. Global mean MP (BiV: 0.65+/-0.20 vs. DDD: 0.65+/-0.21 vs. AAI: 0.65+/-0.18 mlg(-1)min(-1)) and MP in each of the four regions did not differ between the three pacing modes. The patients improved clinically during BiV pacing; 6 min WT increased (338+/-59 vs. 415+/-73 m, P<0.001), NYHA class score improved (class I/II/III/IV: 0/0/11/3 vs. 1/9/2/0, P<0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction increased (21+/-5 vs. 29+/-8%, P=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
No differences in regional MP are detectable after chronic BiV pacing when the pacing mode is changed acutely in patients with severe congestive heart failure and bundle branch block. This finding indicates, that the clinical improvement caused by BiV pacing is not associated with any increase in the MP and thereby oxygen demand.
Nielsen
Jens Cosedis
JC
Department of Cardiology, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej, DK-8200 N, Aarhus, Denmark. cosedis@dadlnet.dk
Bøttcher
Morten
M
Jensen
Henrik Kjaerulf
HK
Nielsen
Torsten Toftegaard
TT
Pedersen
Anders Kirstein
AK
Mortensen
Peter Thomas
PT
D000368:Aged; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000628:therapy*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D003718:Denmark; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy