title: Short-term effects of right ventricular pacing on cardiorespiratory function in patients with a biventricular pacemaker.
abstract: The intention of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of right ventricular (RV) pacing on cardiorespiratory function in patients with a biventricular pacemaker. A group of 26 patients with a biventricular pacemaker was enrolled in this cross-over, single-blind study. All patients underwent spiroergometry and electrocardiography in RV and biventricular pacing mode. Peak work capacity (102+/-32 W and 107+/-34 W for RV and biventricular pacing mode, respectively; P<.01) and peak oxygen consumption (21.4+/-6.7 mL/min/kg and 22.6+/-7.0 mL/min/kg for RV and biventricular pacing mode, respectively; P<.01) were significantly lower in the RV pacing mode. Heart rate at rest was significantly higher with active RV pacing. Short-term RV pacing in patients with a biventricular pacemaker resulted in a higher heart rate at rest, a lower peak work capacity, and a lower peak oxygen consumption compared with that in the biventricular pacing mode.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Kantonsspital Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toggweiler
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kobza
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D016552:Ergometry; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013147:Spirometry; D013997:Time Factors