Long-term results of surgical lead implantation for biventricular pacemakers in cardiomyopathy patients.
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.
Jones
Robert
R
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. rwj4@cornell.edu
Harostock
Michael
M
McDonnell
Bryan
B
Briskie
Joseph
J
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