Atrioventricular Optimization for Dual Chamber Pacemaker

Overview

This study aims to examine the effect of atrioventricular synchrony in AV block patients who received permanent pacemaker. By achieving physiologic ventricular diastolic filling, adjustment of atrioventricular delay of pacemaker might affect the long term outcome of left ventricular function and remodelling. The investigators designed to randomize AV block patients who already have or anticipated to receive pacemaker, into two groups. Patients in intervention group undergo reprogramming AV delay of pacemaker to the best value to increase cardiac output measured by transthoracic echocardiogram and the patients in control group undergo routinely scheduled pacemaker programming. The primary endpoint is improvement of LV systolic function and the secondary endpoint is change in left ventricular volume, cardiac output, BNP, 6-minute walk capacity and NYHA class after one year.

It is well-known that persistent right ventricular apical pacing induces left ventricular dysfunction. The most important risk factor is the ratio of ventricular pacing so the effort to reduce pacing ratio is needed. However, almost 100% ventricular pacing is inevitable in complete atrio-ventricular block patients with implanted pacemaker. Traditionally the ventricular lead of the pacemaker is positioned in right ventricular apex and previous literatures reported that such right ventricular apical pacing impedes physiological ventricular contraction and induces left ventricular contractile dysfunction in long-term. The alternative positions of ventricular lead are right ventricular outflow tract and ventricular septum but the benefits are not yet clearly prooved. Additionally, adjusting atrio-ventricular delay is reportedto affect cardiac output by altering diastolic filling. The investigators aimed to analyze the effect of AV dealy in long-term left ventricular contractile function. Patients over 19 years old who received or anticipated to receive permanent pacemaker due to AV block are randomized to 1:1 ratio into two groups. Patients in intervention group undergo reprogramming AV delay of pacemaker to the best value to increase cardiac output measured by transthoracic echocardiogram and the patients in control group undergo routinely scheduled pacemaker programming. Patients with underlying LV systolic dysfunction or significant valvular heart disease are excluded. Six-minute walk test, BNP, transthoracic echocardiogram, NYHA class are examined at baseline and after one year.