Nicola Musilli

Cardiac resynchronization therapy : Gender related differences in left ventricular reverse remodeling

Cardiac resynchronization refers to pacing techniques that change the degree of atrial and ventricular electromechanical asynchrony in patients with major atrial and ventricular conduction disorders. Atrial and ventricular resynchronization is usually accomplished by pacing from more than one site in an electrical chamber--atrium or ventricle--and occasionally by stimulation at a single unconventional site. Resynchronization produces beneficial hemodynamic and antiarrhythmic effects by providing a more physiologic pattern of depolarization. Atrial resynchronization may prevent atrial fibrillation in selected patients with underlying bradycardia or interatrial block. Its antiarrhythmic effect in the absence of bradycardia is unclear. Ventricular resynchronization is of far greater clinical value than atrial resynchronization. Biventricular (or single-chamber left ventricular) pacing is beneficial for patients with congestive heart failure, severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, dilated cardiomyopathy (either ischemic or idiopathic), and a major left-sided intraventricular conduction disorder, such as left bundle branch block. The change in electrical activation from resynchronization, which has no positive inotropic effect as such, is translated into mechanical improvement with a more coordinated left ventricular contraction. Several recent randomized trials and a number of observational studies have demonstrated the long-term effectiveness of ventricular resynchronization in the above group of patients. The high incidence of sudden death among these patients has encouraged ongoing clinical trials to evaluate the benefit of a system that combines biventricular pacing and cardioversion-defibrillation into a single implantable device.Aim: Gender related differences in epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis of heart failure (HF) have been reported. We examined the sex influence in patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Atrial septal pacing: A new approach to prevent atrial fibrillation

Atrial pacing may prevent the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) because of: (1) prevention of the relative bradycardia that triggers paroxysmal AF; (2) prevention of the bradycardia induced dispersion of refractoriness; (3)suppression or reduction of premature atrial contractions that initiate reentry and predispose to AF; (4) preservation of AV synchrony, which might prevent switch induced changes in atrial repolarization predisposing to AF. Atrial pacing locations that decrease atrial activation and dispersion of refractoriness may be preferable in patients with a history of AF. Two different interatrial septum sites have been proposed: the Bachmanns bundle and the coronary sinus ostium. The results of two prospective randomized studies indicate that septal pacing, when compared to the traditional right atrial appendage pacing, significantly reduces : (1) paroxysmal AF recurrences and burden; and (2) progression to chronic AF. (PACE 2004; 27[Pt. II]:850–854)

Prevention of Short Term Reversible Chronic Atrial Fibrillation by Permanent Pacing at the Triangle of Koch

AbstractObjectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate if single lead interatrial septum pacing could be effective in maintaining sinus rhythm in patients in whom restoration of sinus rhythm was only possible for a period of 2–24 hours after one or more previous electrical cardioversions, and in whom a sinus bradycardia was documented before arrhythmia restarted. The two hours limit was chosen because it was considered a sufficient time to implant a dual chamber pacemaker. Background: Alternative atrial pacing techniques have been demonstrated to be successful in preventing recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with sinus bradycardia. Excluding the AF occurring after only a few sinus beats, at 24 hours from electrical cardioversion an early restart of chronic AF has been reported in 12[emsp4 ]% to 17[emsp4 ]% of the patients. Methods: After sinus rhythm was restored by internal electrical cardioversion, 17 patients, 7 ablated at the AV junction, underwent a dual chamber rate response (DDDR) pacemaker implantation with a screw-in atrial lead placed in the interatrial septum. Results: After a follow-up period of 17±5 months (range 12 to 27 months) persistence of sinus rhythm was observed in 11 patients (65[emsp4 ]%). Six patients (35[emsp4 ]%) had recurrences of paroxysmal attacks, while five (30[emsp4 ]%) were totally free of AF. Recurrence of chronic AF was observed in six cases (35[emsp4 ]%) after 2 days–12 months from implantation. No dislodgements of the atrial lead and no complications were observed at implantation and during follow-up. Conclusions: Interatrial septum pacing is a safe and feasible technique with a satisfying success rate (65[emsp4 ]%) in long-term maintaining sinus rhythm in previously unsuccessfully cardioverted patients.

A perspective on atrioventricular delay optimization in patients with a dual chamber pacemaker

Atrioventricular delay (AVD) is critical in patients with DDD pacemakers (PM). Echo/Doppler evaluation of AVD providing the longest left ventricular filling time (FT) or the highest cardiac output (CO) is used for AVD optimization. Recently myocardial performance index (MPI) has been shown to improve by optimizing AVD. The aim was to compare the CO, FT, MPI derived optimal AVD, and to analyze systolic and diastolic performance at every optimal AVD. Twenty‐five patients, 16 men 68 ± 11 years, ejection fraction ≥ 50%, with a DDD PM for third‐degree AV block, without other major cardiomyopathies, underwent echo/Doppler AVD optimization. CO, FT, and MPI derived optimal AVDs were identified as the AVDs providing the highest CO, the longest FT, and the minimum MPI, respectively. Isovolumic contraction and relaxation time (ICT, IRT), ejection time (ET), ICT/ET, and IRT/ET ratios were also evaluated at every optimal AVD. CO, FT, and MPI derived optimal AVDs were significantly different (148 ± 36 ms, 116 ± 34 ms, and 127 ± 33 ms, respectively). ICT/ET was similar at CO, FT, and MPI derived optimal AVD (0.22 ± 0.10, 0.23 ± 0.11, and 0.21 ± 0.10, respectively). IRT/ET ratio was similar at FT and MPI derived optimal AVDs (0.34 ± 0.15 and 0.33 ± 0.15, respectively) and significantly shorter (P < 0.02) than at CO derived optimal AVD (0.40 ± 0.15). Different methods indicate different optimal AVDs. However analysis of systolic and diastolic performance shows that different AVDs result in similar systolic or diastolic performance. At MPI optimized AVD, a high CO combined with the most advantageous conditions of both isovolumic contraction and relaxation phases is achieved. (PACE 2004; 27:333–338)

Pre-procedural bioimpedance vectorial analysis of fluid status and prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pre-procedural fluid status assessed by bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) and development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). BACKGROUND Accurate fluid management in patients undergoing angiographic procedures is of critical importance in limiting the risk of CI-AKI. Therefore, establishing peri-procedural fluid volume related to increased risk of CI-AKI development is essential. METHODS We evaluated the fluid status by BIVA of 900 consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) immediately before coronary angiography, measuring the resistance/height (R/H) ratio and impedance/height (Z/H) vector. CI-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg/dl above baseline within 3 days after contrast administration (iodixanol). RESULTS CI-AKI occurred in 54 patients (6.0%). Pre-procedural R/H ratios were significantly higher in patients with CI-AKI than without CI-AKI (395 ± 71 Ohm/m vs. 352 ± 58 Ohm/m, p = 0.001 for women; 303 ± 59 Ohm/m vs. 279 ± 45 Ohm/m, p = 0.009 for men), indicating lower fluid volume in the patients with CI-AKI. When patients were stratified according to R/H ratio, there was an almost 3-fold higher risk in patients with higher values (odds ratio [OR]: 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5 to 5.5; p = 0.002). The optimal receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis threshold values of R/H ratio for predicting CI-AKI were 380 Ohm/m for women and 315 Ohm/m for men. R/H ratio above these thresholds was found to be a significant and independent predictor of CI-AKI (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.8 to 5.5; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Lower fluid status evaluated by BIVA immediately before contrast medium administration resulted in a significant and independent predictor of CI-AKI in patients with stable CAD. This simple noninvasive analysis should be tested in guiding tailored volume repletion.

Prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by permanent septal atrial pacing: long-term follow up

Background Inter-atrial septum pacing may prevent initiation or persistence of atrial fibrillation through suppression of premature beats and regularization of atrial rhythm; prolongation of the coupling interval of the premature beats in the abnormal substrate; and modification of the electrophysiological properties of the substrate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the rate of progression to permanent atrial fibrillation in patients paced at the inter-atrial septum. Method A total of 70 patients (41 male, 29 female; mean age 72 ± 11 years) with a history of sinus bradycardia and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (6 ± 10 episodes/month in the 3 months before implantation of a pacemaker) were enrolled. Twenty-six patients were ablated at the atrioventricular junction. Results Sinus rhythm was maintained in 79·8% of the group overall after 50 months. After 36 months, sinus rhythm was maintained in 87·9% of the non-ablated patients and in 61·0% of the ablated patients (P < 0·05). Conclusion These results encourage further evaluation of interatrial septum pacing for prevention of AF. (Eur Heart J Supplements 2001; 3 (Suppl P): P2‐P6)