title: Permanent His-bundle pacing is feasible, safe, and superior to right ventricular pacing in routine clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Right ventricular pacing (RVP) has been associated with heart failure and increased mortality. His-bundle pacing (HBP) is more physiological but requires a mapping catheter or a backup right ventricular lead and is technically challenging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of permanent HBP in an unselected population as compared to RVP.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients requiring pacemaker implantation routinely underwent attempt at permanent HBP using the Select Secure (model 3830) pacing lead in the year 2011 delivered through a fixed-shaped catheter (C315 HIS) at one hospital and RVP at the second hospital. Patients were followed from implantation, 2 weeks, 2 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Fluoroscopy time (FT), pacing threshold (PTh), complications, heart failure hospitalization, and mortality were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBP was attempted in 94 consecutive patients, while 98 patients underwent RVP. HBP was successful in 75 patients (80%). FT was similar (12.7 ± 8 minutes vs 10 ± 14 minutes; median 9.1 vs 6.4 minutes; P = .14) and PTh was higher in the HBP group than in the RVP group (1.35 ± 0.9 V vs 0.6 ± 0.5 V at 0.5 ms; P < .001) and remained stable over a 2-year follow-up period. In patients with >40% ventricular pacing (>60% of patients), heart failure hospitalization was significantly reduced in the HBP group than in the RVP group (2% vs 15%; P = .02). There was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups (13% in the HBP group vs 18% in the RVP group; P = .45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Permanent HBP without a mapping catheter or a backup right ventricular lead was successfully achieved in 80% of patients. PTh was higher and FT was comparable to those of the RVP group. Clinical outcomes were better in the HBP group than in the RVP group.
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Parikshit S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Gopi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dandamudi
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naperkowski
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jess W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oren
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Randle H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Storm
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ellenbogen
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: pvijayaraman1@geisinger.edu.
authors.forename: Pugazhendhi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayaraman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clinical outcomes; Feasibility; Heart failure; His-bundle pacing; Para-Hisian pacing; Right ventricular pacing; Safety