title: Outcome of patients with cardiac resynchronisation defibrillator therapy and a follow-up of at least five years after implant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac resynchronisation therapy with defibrillator backup (CRT-D) is an established therapeutic option in selected heart failure patients. Data on its pronounced long-term outcome are scarce. We evaluated the long-term outcome (>5 years) of patients with the main focus on device-associated events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of a prospective CRT-D registry with 219 patients, all 49 patients (22%) who survived for at least 5 years were analysed. Baseline characteristics, device associated issues (battery longevity, lead problems, phrenic nerve stimulation, infections and pacing threshold levels), implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapies, mortality, changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± standard deviation age of the patients was 63±10 years and follow-up was 84±18 months. Seventy-eight percent were male, 73% had nonischaemic cardiomyopathy and 80% a primary prevention indication. After initially surviving 5 years, 8 patients (16%) died during further follow-up. LVEF improved from 23%±7% to 35%±13% (p-value <0.0001) at last follow-up. 14 patients (29%) had appropriate ICD therapy, mainly for ventricular tachycardia. No first-ever arrhythmic event occurred beyond year 4.5. Device longevity was 54±13 months. Twenty-three technical problems occurred in 20 patients (40%), 14 of whom (61%) required surgery (7 lead defects, 4 dislodgments, 3 others). Dislodgements occurred early (after 2±2 months); defects were scattered (2-59 months) during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selected patients who survive for at least 5 years experience sustained improvement in LVEF and NYHA- class and only few arrhythmic episodes. Technical problems occur in 40% of patients (60% requiring surgery), mainly shortly after implant and again after 4 to 5 years.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, SWITZERLAND; matthias.bossard@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bossard
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sticherling
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kühne
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osswald
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology