Left ventricular lead proximity to an akinetic segment and impact on outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies report that the optimal pacing site for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is along the left ventricular (LV) lateral and postero-lateral (PL) wall. However, little is known regarding whether pacing over an akinetic site impacts the contractile response and long-term outcome from CRT.


RESULTS
A total of 38 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy were studied for their acute hemodynamic and 12-month clinical response to CRT. The intraindividual percentage change in dP/dt (%DeltadP/dt), over baseline, was derived from the mitral regurgitation (MR) Doppler profile with CRT on versus off. Two-dimensional echocardiography was used for myocardial segmentation and determinination of akinetic sites. LV lead implant site was determined using angiographic and radiographic data and categorized as being "on" (group 1) or "off" (group 2) an akinetic site. Long-term response was measured as a combined endpoint of hospitalization for heart failure and/or all cause mortality at 12 months. Time to primary endpoint was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinical characteristics and acute hemodynamic response was similar in both (group 1 [n = 14]; %DeltadP/dt 48.8 +/- 67.4% vs group 2 [n = 24]; %DeltadP/dt 32.2 +/- 40.1%, P = 0.92). No difference in long-term outcome was observed (P = 0.59). In contrast, lead placement in PL or mid-lateral (ML) positions was associated with a better acute hemodynamic response when compared to antero-lateral (AL) positions (PL, %DeltadP/dt 45.7 +/- 50.7% and ML, %DeltadP/dt 45.1 +/- 58.8% vs AL, %DeltadP/dt 2.9 +/- 30.9%, respectively, P = 0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
LV lead proximity to an akinetic segment does not impact acute hemodynamic or 12-month clinical response to CRT.
Arzola-Castaner
Daniel
D
Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Taub
Cynthia
C
Kevin Heist
E
E
Fan
Dali
D
Haelewyn
Kyle
K
Mela
Theofanie
T
Picard
Michael H
MH
Ruskin
Jeremy N
JN
Singh
Jagmeet P
JP
D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left