title: Long-term results of surgical lead implantation for biventricular pacemakers in cardiomyopathy patients.
abstract: Patients with congestive heart failure commonly display dysynchronous contraction patterns and weakened cardiac performance. Cardiac resynchronization therapy from biventricular pacing has been proven effective using coronary sinus cannulation or a less common surgical approach. In this study, the beneficial effects of implanting biventricular leads using the surgical approach for New York Heart Association functional class 3 or 4 patients (mean, 3.4 +/- 0.5) were evaluated in 19 patients (17 male, 2 female). Pacing thresholds after 2 years were deemed favorable (left ventricle, 2.1 +/- 0.8 V; right ventricle, 1.1 +/- 0.4 V). Dobutamine therapy was no longer needed in 2 patients after they underwent biventricular pacing. No mortality or morbidity resulted from the procedure, and 2 patients were readmitted to the hospital, once each after the procedure over the 2-year follow-up period. The data show that the surgical approach for cardiac resynchronization therapy has durable long-term results.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. rwj4@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harostock
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briskie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011336:Probability; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome