Tomasz Sondej

Mortality and morbidity in cardiac resynchronization patients: impact of lead position, paced left ventricular QRS morphology and other characteristics on long-term outcome

AIMS To investigate the effect of implantation-related characteristics, especially lead position and left ventricular (LV)-paced QRS morphology, on long-term mortality and morbidity in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS The study retrospectively analysed 362 consecutive patients who underwent CRT device implantation over a 6 year period. Pre-implantation, LV-only paced, and biventricularly paced 12-lead electrocardiograms were obtained. Left ventricular and right ventricular (RV) lead positions were determined using biplane fluoroscopy and roentgenograms. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival function for all-cause death/hospitalization and cardiovascular death/hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were also applied. The mean follow-up time was 24.7 ± 16.9 months. There were 79 deaths (62 cardiovascular) and 99 unplanned hospitalizations (72 cardiovascular). One year and 2 year all-cause mortality rates were 8.5 and 18.0%, respectively. Electrocardiographic and fluoroscopic descriptors of the LV lead position were found to be predictors of mortality/morbidity (as were functional class, heart failure aetiology, hyponatremia, and chronic atrial fibrillation). In particular, the antero-apical pattern of LV-only paced QRS showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.8 in univariate and 1.7 in multivariate analysis for predicting all-cause death/hospitalization (P = 0.006). The apical/paraseptal LV lead position showed an HR of 2.1 in univariate and 1.9 in multivariate analysis for predicting cardiovascular death/hospitalization (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION To achieve better long-term outcomes in CRT patients the antero-apical pattern of LV QRS complexes and apical or paraseptal LV lead position should be avoided.

Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in responders and non-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine whether baseline right ventricular (RV) function assessed by standard echocardiography may indicate patients who will respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Material and methods The data of 57 patients (54 men, 95%), aged 66.4 ±8.7 years with heart failure (HF) having a CRT device implanted were collected. All patients had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% and QRS complex duration ≥ 120 ms. Echocardiographic examination with tissue Doppler imaging techniques and complex RV evaluation were performed at baseline and three months after CRT onset. Results Three months after CRT implantation, patients responding to CRT, defined as a reduction of left ventricle end-systolic volume (LVESV) of at least 10% (n = 34), compared to patients with a reduction of LVESV of less than 10% (n = 23), had at baseline a smaller right atrium diameter (47.85 ±11.33 mm vs. 52.65 ±8.69 mm; p = 0.028), higher TAPSE (14.56 ±2.57 mm vs. 13.04 ±2.93 mm; p = 0.030) and lower grade of tricuspid valve regurgitation (1.82 ±0.97 vs. 2.3 ±0.88; p = 0.033). Conclusions This study showed that there are differences in baseline right ventricular function between responders and non-responders to CRT. Yet in our study, none of the baseline RV parameters provided any value in identifying patients who would respond to CRT.

Baseline tissue Doppler imaging-derived echocardiographic parameters and left ventricle reverse remodelling following cardiac resynchronization therapy introduction

Introduction The aim of the study was to assess the relation of baseline mechanical dyssynchrony with the left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) decrease following cardiac resynchronization (CRT) therapy introduction. Material and methods Sixty consecutive patients (aged 66.3 ± 8.7 years; 57 men) with chronic heart failure (71.7% of ischaemic and 28.3% of non-ischaemic origin) and current indications for CRT were assessed before and 3 months after biventricular heart stimulator implantation. Longitudinal movements of twelve segments of the left ventricle (LV) (6 basal and 6 midlevel) and two segments of the right ventricle (RV) were analysed using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) techniques with time from onset of Q wave in ECG to peak systolic velocity in colour-coded TDI (TTDI), time to peak strain (Tstrain) and time to peak strain rate (Tstrain rate). Minimal and maximal time differences within LV and between LV and RV walls were calculated. Results In the study group LVEF and 6-min walk test distance increased, while NYHA class, NT-proBNP level, left ventricular end-diastolic volume and LVESV decreased. Significant correlations between the magnitude of LVESV reduction with maximal time differences between Tstrain of 12 LV segments (r=0.34, p = 0.017) and time differences between TTDI basal LV-RV segments (r = –0.29, p=0.041) were found. Conclusions Only a few TDI-derived parameters such as maximal time differences between Tstrain of 12 LV segments and TTDI difference of LV-RV basal segments can be useful to predict the magnitude of left ventricle reverse remodelling after CRT introduction.

New ECG markers for predicting long-term mortality and morbidity in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy

We investigated prognostic value of four recently proposed ECG markers in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT): 1./ pathological preimplantation QRS axis, 2./ increase in QRS amplitude in V3 during biventricular pacing, 3./ negative QRS in V1/V2 during left ventricular (LV)-only pacing, 4./ longer QRS duration during LV-only pacing. A longitudinal cohort study was performed (n = 552). RESULTS During the 9-year observation period the primary endpoint (death from any cause or urgent heart transplantation) was met in 232 patients. The secondary endpoint of survival free of heart failure hospitalization was met in 292 patients. Long LV-paced QRS and pathological axis predicted unfavorable prognosis in Kaplan-Meier analysis. In multivariable Cox model (functional class, LV ejection fraction, LV end-diastolic dimension, permanent atrial fibrillation, age, gender, heart failure etiology, creatinine level, diabetes mellitus), LV-paced QRS duration remained a significant determinant of both endpoints. The other studied ECG markers lacked independent prognostic value.

Concealed His bundle extrasystoles causing atrioventricular block

We present electrocardiograms of a 37 year-old male with frequent extrasystoles and second-degree atrioventricular block. Electrophysiological study confirmed the initial diagnosis of manifest and concealed His bundle ectopy as the cause of his brady- and tachyarrhythmia.