Clinical Prospective ranDomized Trial to Evaluate the Non-inferiority of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing Vs Cardiac ResynchronIzatioN Therapy With ECG guIded AV Optimization

Overview

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is the gold standard therapy for patients with advanced HF left ventricle dysfunction and large QRS. Recently left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) or left bundle optimized cardiac resynchronization therapy has been proposed as a rescue therapy for failed or unsuccessful CRT. LBBAP has been also proposed as a physiological pacing modality for patient who need permanent ventricular pacing as an alternative to conventional right ventricular pacing. Several observational studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this technique due to an ease procedure, stable and appropriate electrical measurements and clinical benefit in terms of patients outcomes. Furthermore, It is well known that an optimized AV delay (AVD) can improve clinical outcomes preserving a physiological diastolic function. In clinical practice several different AVD optimization methods have been developed in the last few years. The majority of them use the intracardiac electrograms during the implant procedure to evaluate QRS duration and AV delay or at follow-up through echocardiographic measurements. Aim of our pilot project is to assess the non-inferiority of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing vs Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with ECG/Echo guided AV optimization.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is the gold standard therapy for patients with advanced HF left ventricle dysfunction and large QRS. Recently left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) or left bundle optimized cardiac resynchronization therapy has been proposed as a rescue therapy for failed or unsuccessful CRT. LBBAP has been also proposed as a physiological pacing modality for patient who need permanent ventricular pacing as an alternative to conventional right ventricular pacing. Several observational studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this technique due to an ease procedure, stable and appropriate electrical measurements and clinical benefit in terms of patients outcomes. Furthermore, LBBAP provides a fast activation of the left ventricle and has shown to maintain electrical synchrony shortening the QRS and providing the correction of left bundle branch block (LBBB) by pacing beyond the block. Despite of that, it is common to find right bundle branch block (RBBB) at the electrocardiography (ECG) that represents a delay in the RV activation and interventricular dissynchrony. This finding in patients with heart failure may worsen their conditions as shown in literature. RBBB may be minimized by the resynchronization of right ventricle and left ventricle with an adequate time sequence or by the correct optimization of the atrioventricular delay for both CRT and LBBAP in order to enable fusion with intrinsic RV conduction in patients without a complete AV block. It is well known that an optimized AV delay (AVD) can improve clinical outcomes preserving a physiological diastolic function. In clinical practice several different AVD optimization methods have been developed in the last few years. The majority of them use the intracardiac electrograms during the implant procedure to evaluate QRS duration and AV delay or at follow-up through echocardiographic measurements. Among all the echocardiographic modalities, the mitral inflow velocity time integral (VTI) is a surrogate for LV filling volume assuming a constant mitral valve area. Mitral inflow is dependent on timing of both left atrial and left ventricular systole, and interatrial and interventricular conduction delays will affect optimal timing of ventricular pacing. Aim of our pilot project is to assess the non-inferiority of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing vs Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with ECG/Echo guided AV optimization.