右室双部位起搏治疗心力衰竭的临床观察

评价 15例患者经右室双部位起搏治疗慢性心力衰竭 (简称心衰 )的疗效。其中原发性扩张型心肌病心衰 13例、缺血性心肌病心衰 2例 ;心功能Ⅲ级 9例、Ⅳ级 6例。结果 :15例患者安置时右室心尖部起搏阈值 0 .5± 0 .3(0 .3～ 1.0 )V、R波振幅 15± 5 .98(6～ 2 4.6 )mV ,阻抗 6 13± 172 (32 0～ 90 0 )Ω。右室流出道起搏阈值 0 .7± 0 .2 6 (0 .3～1.3)V、R波振幅 13± 5 .5 5 (6 .5～ 2 3.6 )mV、阻抗 5 6 3± 194(30 0～ 90 0 )Ω ;双部位起搏阈值 1.45± 0 .45 (0 .9～ 1.7)V。双部位起搏心电图QRS波群时限比右室心尖部及右室流出道单部位起搏缩短了 40～ 90ms。超声心动图检查提示双部位起搏后二尖瓣返流面积平均减少 5 .6cm2 ,射血分数值提高 5 .2 %。经 6 .0± 1.5个月的随访 ,15例中除 2例因突发恶性室性心律失常猝死外 ,其余患者的心功能分别从Ⅲ、Ⅳ级改善到Ⅱ和Ⅲ级。右室双部位慢性起搏阈值1.85± 0 .5 6 (1.5～ 2 .5 )V。随访期间QRS波群时限平均下降 5 0ms。结论 :右室双部位起搏能有效的治疗心肌病患者的心衰。     

Electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia during ventricular paced rhythms

Exercise-induced electrocardiographic (ECG) changes are the most widely recognized noninvasive means for detecting myocardial ischemia. The specificity of these changes depends on the normalcy of the resting ECG. Right ventricular pacing produces major QRS and ST-T changes very similar to those of complete left bundle-branch block. They alter the resting ECG such that ischemic changes are considerably difficult to detect. Because of these resting abnormalities, ECG changes during treadmill exercise testing usually do not facilitate the diagnosis of ischemia or coronary artery disease. The following are two cases of ischemic ECG changes that occurred during right ventricular pacing. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of the classic ECG changes of ST-segment depression suggestive of ischemia which occurred during right ventricular pacing and which were discemible from the resting ECG changes.     

Clinical efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy using left ventricular pacing in heart failure patients stratified by severity of ventricular conduction delay

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the clinical efficacy of single-site left ventricular (LV) pacing and determined the impact of baseline conduction delay severity on the magnitude of benefit. BACKGROUND: Multisite biventricular pacing can improve heart failure (HF) symptoms in patients with an intraventricular conduction delay by resynchronizing abnormal ventricular contractions and improving LV systolic function. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with at least New York Heart Association functional class II HF, chronic LV systolic dysfunction, normal sinus rhythm, and a QRS interval over 120 ms were implanted for atrial-synchronized LV pacing. The single-blinded, randomized, controlled, crossover study stratified patients 1:1 by the baseline QRS interval into long (QRS >150 ms) and short (QRS 120 to 150 ms) groups, which were compared during a three-month period of active (univentricular) pacing and a three-month period of inactive (ventricular inhibited) pacing. The primary end point was peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) followed by anaerobic threshold, distance walked in 6 min, and quality-of-life questionnaire score. PATIENTS: Twelve patients were withdrawn before randomization and 17 could not complete both study periods. The short QRS group did not improve in any end point with active pacing. For the long QRS group, peak VO(2) increased 2.46 ml/min/kg (p < 0.001), the anaerobic threshold increased 1.55 ml/min/kg (p < 0.001), the distance walked in 6 min increased 47 m (p = 0.024), and the quality-of-life score improved 8.1 points (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular pacing significantly improves exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with chronic HF, LV systolic dysfunction, and a QRS interval over 150 ms.     

Effect of right ventricular pacing site on QRS width

To assess the effect of various right ventricular pacing sites on QRS duration, we enrolled 50 patients (mean age, 64 ± 13 years; 36 men); 16 had bradycardia and 34 had tachycardia. The right ventricle was arbitrarily divided into 5 sections: high and low right ventricular outflow tract, mid septum, low septum, and apex. Right ventricular pacing was performed using an electrode catheter at each of the 5 sites. QRS duration was 162 ± 20 ms during high right ventricular outflow tract pacing, 143 ± 17 ms during low right ventricular outflow tract pacing, 151 ± 20 ms during mid-septal pacing, 163 ± 16 ms during low-septal pacing, and 167 ± 18 ms during apical pacing. Paced QRS duration was shorter during low right ventricular outflow tract and mid-septal pacing compared to apical pacing in 34 patients. There was a difference of 10 ms or less in the paced QRS duration between these pacing sites in the other 16 patients. QRS duration was shortest when the septum was paced in the right ventricle. However, QRS duration was similar during pacing in the septum and the apex in 32% of patients.     

Long-term follow-up of right ventricular outflow tract septal pacing

Objective Right ventricular outflow tract septum has become widely used us an electrode placement site. However, data concerning lead performances and complications for lead repositioning with this technique were scant. The purpose of this study was to observe long- term lead performances and complications of right ventricular outflow tract septal pacing and provide evidences for choosing an optimal electrode implantation site. Methods Thirty-six patients with septal active electrode implantation and 39 with apical passive electrode implantation were enrolled in this study. Pacing threshold, R-wave sensing, lead impedance, pacing QRS width and pacing-related compli- cations for two groups at implantation and follow-up were compared. Results There were higher pacing threshold and shorter pacing QRS width at implantation in the septal group compared with the apical group. There were no differences between the septal and the apical groups in pacing threshold, R-wave sensitivity, lead impedance and pace-related complication during a follow-up. Conclusions Right ventricular outflow tract septum could be used as a first choice for implantation site because it had long-term stable lead performances and no serious complications compared with the traditional apical site.     

右心室流出道起搏与常规心尖部起搏的对比研究

目的 评价右心室流出道间隔部起搏临床应用的有效性及安全性.方法 将所入选患者按右心室起搏电极置入部位随机分为被动固定导线心尖部(常规组)和螺旋电极起搏右心室流出道间隔部(非常规组),比较两组患者在术中及术后起搏参数变化及不良反应情况.结果 非常规组在术中测试起搏阈值及电流明显高于常规组,但术后1个月差异无统计学意义;术中阻抗及R波振幅二者无明显差异.非常规组起搏时QRS时限较常规组明显要窄,但差异无统计学意义.无患者发生不良反应.结论 选择性部位起搏的临床应用安全、有效.     

Patient selection for biventricular pacing

In heart failure patients with a large QRS width, biventricular pacing has been shown to improve the fonctional status as well as hemodynamic parameters. However, there are non-responders despite of wide QRS complexes (between 15 and 35%). Patients selection might not rely only on electrical parameters. From an electrophysiological concept, clinicians moved toward a more electromechanical analysis, by using non-invasive tools such as Tissue Doppler imaging. Thereby, more than the QRS width, identification of intra-left ventricular asynchrony appears to be a crucial criterion for selecting responders to biventricular pacing. From this fact, several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biventricular pacing to improve heart failure patients with narrow QRS but with intra-left ventricular asynchrony. Another parameter has been thought to be predominant, i.e. the left ventricular pacing site. If the pacing lead is located within a "slow conduction" area (at this time very difficult to identify during the implant procedure), biventricular pacing will generate a new asynchrony counteracting the beneficial expected. Thus, biventricular pacing appears to be more an electromechanical concept than exclusively electrical for selecting responders. Still, the optimal location of the left ventricular pacing lead remains to be determined.     

Hemodynamic benefits of left ventricular pacing in two pacemakers syndromes with refractory heart failure

We describe two cases in which right ventricular pacing produced severe hemodynamic deterioration and in which changing the pacing from the right to the left ventricle sharply corrected these alterations, while simultaneous biventricular pacing did not. Chronic left ventricular pacing can solve hemodynamic alterations in severe pacemaker syndromes, thereby avoiding the need for mitral prosthesis implantation in some cases. The use of this procedure today should be individualized, including acute hemodynamic and echocardiographic studies, because the width of the QRS complex during pacing is not a significant predictor of hemodynamic efficiency.     

Complete heart block. Studies of atrial and ventricular pacemaker site and function.

Atrial and ventricular pacemaker function was studied in 20 patients with idiopathic chronic complete heart block using the rate response to an intravenous bolus dose of isoprenaline (5 mug/70 kg bodyweight). Pacemaker responses were compared with those of 16 normal control subjects. None of the patients was having syncopal attacks at the time of admission and they were therefore selected in that none required immediate pacing. Ten of the patients had His bundle electrograms; all were shown to have a pre-His type of atrioventricular block. Two major groups emerge from the responses to isoprenaline. (a) High risk group: 11 of the 14 patients with reduced ventricular pacemaker responses had frequent syncopal attacks; 8 of the patients with Adams-Stokes syncope had a bundle-branch block pattern, while 3 had a narrow QRS. These patients require pacing. (b) Low risk group: a low risk asymptomatic group (5 patients) was identified with atrial and ventricular responses to isoprenaline within normal range. One of these patients had a bundle-branch block pattern, while 4 had a narrow QRS. These patients might be managed without pacing. The atrial response to isoprenaline was reduced in 12 of the 20 cases, 10 of whom also had reduced ventricular responses. All 9 patients with bundle-branch block had reduced ventricular responses, while 7 had reduced atrial responses. This evidence indicates that cardiac conducting tissue pathophysiology is widespread in complete heart bolck. The present work suggests that consideration of the ventricular pacemaker function is important in assessing liability to syncope in complete heart block. While patients with Adams-Stokes attacks require pacing it is suggested that all asymptomatic patients with complete heart block and those with minor symptoms are assessed using studies of both ventricular pacemaker function and site. A low risk group not requiring a pacemaker may emerge after sufficient follow-up assessment.     

Complete heart block. Studies of atrial and ventricular pacemaker site and function.

Atrial and ventricular pacemaker function was studied in 20 patients with idiopathic chronic complete heart block using the rate response to an intravenous bolus dose of isoprenaline (5 mug/70 kg bodyweight). Pacemaker responses were compared with those of 16 normal control subjects. None of the patients was having syncopal attacks at the time of admission and they were therefore selected in that none required immediate pacing. Ten of the patients had His bundle electrograms; all were shown to have a pre-His type of atrioventricular block. Two major groups emerge from the responses to isoprenaline. (a) High risk group: 11 of the 14 patients with reduced ventricular pacemaker responses had frequent syncopal attacks; 8 of the patients with Adams-Stokes syncope had a bundle-branch block pattern, while 3 had a narrow QRS. These patients require pacing. (b) Low risk group: a low risk asymptomatic group (5 patients) was identified with atrial and ventricular responses to isoprenaline within normal range. One of these patients had a bundle-branch block pattern, while 4 had a narrow QRS. These patients might be managed without pacing. The atrial response to isoprenaline was reduced in 12 of the 20 cases, 10 of whom also had reduced ventricular responses. All 9 patients with bundle-branch block had reduced ventricular responses, while 7 had reduced atrial responses. This evidence indicates that cardiac conducting tissue pathophysiology is widespread in complete heart bolck. The present work suggests that consideration of the ventricular pacemaker function is important in assessing liability to syncope in complete heart block. While patients with Adams-Stokes attacks require pacing it is suggested that all asymptomatic patients with complete heart block and those with minor symptoms are assessed using studies of both ventricular pacemaker function and site. A low risk group not requiring a pacemaker may emerge after sufficient follow-up assessment.     

Adverse events with transvenous left ventricular pacing in patients with severe heart failure: early experience from a single centre.

AIMS: Assessment of complications following implantation of transvenous ventricular electrodes to pace the left ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with severe cardiac failure and left bundle branch block were prospectively followed for adverse effects of implantation of a left ventricular transvenous pacing system. Immediate follow-up was associated with loss of left ventricular pacing in nine patients (32%). This was due to lead dislodgement in four cases (corrected by re-operation in three of these cases), and due to increased threshold in five cases (corrected by programming a higher pacing amplitude in all five cases, but with intermittent diaphragmatic contraction in one case). After 1 month, one patient died, one patient with severe coronary heart disease suffered a myocardial infarction, and left ventricular pacing was lost in two patients. Pericardial effusion, new significant ventricular arrhythmias or other adverse effects were not observed. After a mean follow-up of 16 +/- 9.2 months, pacing leads remained stable and no late complications related to the transvenous left ventricular epicardial pacing were observed. CONCLUSION: Placement of a permanent lead in a tributary of the coronary sinus is feasible without serious adverse effects during the first month. The only frequent adverse event was lead dislodgement; a finding which emphasizes the need for development of specially designed leads for this application.     

右心室高位与中位室间隔部起搏的临床对照研究

目的 通过对比右心室高位和中位室间隔起搏的QRS波宽度及血流动力学指标探讨右心室间隔部最佳起搏部位.方法 112例DDD型永久起搏器患者随机分为右心室高位间隔部组和右心室中位间隔部组,比较两组的起搏参数、QRS波宽度及术后LVEF值.结果 右心室高位间隔部组和右心室中位间隔部组在起搏参数、QRS波宽度及改善LVEF方面...     

Selective site pacing from the right ventricular mid-septum. Follow-up of lead performance and procedure technique

Pacing from the right ventricular (RV) apex is associated with adverse effects such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. We attempted pacing from the RV mid-septum, which is theoretically a more physiological pacing site. A total of 172 consecutive patients with indications for permanent pacemaker implantation were studied. A screw-in lead and a curved stylet were used for lead positioning on the RV mid-septum. Pacemaker indices were evaluated at implantation and one year later. As an electrocardiographic parameter, QRS duration was measured in lead II. These data were compared to those of 66 patients subjected to conventional RV apical pacing. Lead placement was successful in all patients of RV mid-septal pacing. There were no technical problems during or after the procedure. The cumulative percentage of ventricular pacing at one year postimplantation was 85 ± 24 % in the SSP group. Sensing, pacing threshold, and lead impedance in the SSP group remained clinically stable over one year. When these measurements were compared between the SSP and AP groups, the pacing threshold and the lead impedance at one year postimplantation in the SSP group were higher (P < 0.05) and lower (P < 0.01), respectively, than those of the AP group. The mean QRS duration was markedly shorter (123 ± 16 versus 150 ± 18 msec, P < 0.0001). Selective site pacing from the RV mid-septum is feasible and results in less conduction delay compared to conventional RV apical pacing, and its procedure seems to be more physiological in permanent pacemaker implantation.     

双心室起搏的临床疗效观察

目的　探讨缺血性或扩张型心肌病合并充血性心力衰竭行永久性双心室起搏治疗的临床效果。方法　对 1 0例缺血性或扩张型心肌病合并难治性心力衰竭和左束支阻滞患者 ,常规植入右心室起搏导线的同时植入冠状静脉窦电极导线于左室侧静脉、心大或心中静脉 ,行双心室同步起搏 (其中 2例为四腔起搏 )。通过临床观察、超声心动图测定及 6分钟平地行走评定对心功能的影响。结果　在充血性心力衰竭合并左束支阻滞患者植入冠状静脉窦电极导线行双心室起搏 ,产生较窄 QRS波 ,临床心功能从 ～ 级提高至 ～ 级 ( NYHA) ,同时使二尖瓣返流减少 ,射血分数提高 ,左室舒张末期内径缩小 ,6分钟平地行走距离比术前明显提高。结论　双心室起搏对难治性心力衰竭可能有辅助治疗作用。     

Electrocardiographic Follow‐Up of Biventricular Pacemakers

Multisite pacing for the treatment of heart failure has added a new dimension to the electrocardiographic evaluation of device function. During left ventricular (LV) pacing from the appropriate site in the coronary venous system, a correctly positioned lead V1 registers a right bundle branch block pattern with few exceptions. During biventricular stimulation associated with right ventricular (RV) apical pacing, the QRS is often positive in lead V1. The frontal plane QRS axis is usually in the right superior quadrant and occasionally in the left superior quadrant. Barring incorrect placement of lead V1 (too high on the chest), lack of LV capture, LV lead displacement or marked latency (exit block or delay from the stimulation site), ventricular fusion with the spontaneous QRS complex, a negative QRS complex in lead V1 during biventricular pacing involving the RV apex probably reflects different activation of an heterogeneous biventricular substrate (ischemia, scar, His‐Purkinje participation in view of the varying patterns of LV activation in spontaneous left bundle branch block) and does not necessarily indicate a poor (electrical or mechanical) contribution from LV stimulation. In this situation, it is imperative to rule out the presence of coronary venous pacing via the middle cardiac vein or even unintended placement of two leads in the RV. During biventricular pacing with the RV lead in the outflow tract, the paced QRS in lead V1 is often negative and the frontal plane paced QRS axis is often directed to the right inferior quadrant (right axis deviation). In patients with sinus rhythm and a relatively short PR interval, ventricular fusion with competing native conduction during biventricular pacing may cause misinterpretation of the ECG because narrowing of the paced QRS complex simulates appropriate biventricular capture. This represents a common pitfall in device follow‐up. Elimination of ventricular fusion by shortening the AV delay, is often associated with clinical improvement. Anodal stimulation may complicate threshold testing and should not be misinterpreted as pacemaker malfunction. One must be cognizant of the various disturbances that can disrupt 1:1 atrial tracking and cause loss of ventricular resynchronization. (1) Upper rate response. The upper rate response of biventricular pacemakers differs from the traditional Wenckebach upper rate response of conventional antibradycardia pacemakers because heart failure patients generally do not have sinus bradycardia or AV junctional conduction delay. The programmed upper rate should be sufficiently fast to avoid loss of resynchronization in situations associated with sinus tachycardia. (2) Below the programmed upper rate. This may be caused by a variety of events (especially ventricular premature complexes and favored by the presence of first‐degree AV block) that alter the timing of sensed and paced events. In such cases, atrial events become trapped into the postventricular atrial refractory period at atrial rates below the programmed upper rate in the presence of spontaneous AV conduction. Algorithms are available to restore resynchronization by automatic temporary abbreviation of the postventricular atrial refractory period.     

主动固定电极在右室流出道间隔部起搏中的应用研究

目的评价主动固定电极在右室流出道间隔部起搏应用中的可行性和稳定性。方法160例起搏适应证患者随机分为两组,每组80例,一组采用主动固定电极行右室流出道间隔部起搏(简称主动固定电极组),另一组应用被动固定电极行右室心尖起搏(简称被动固定电极组),观察电极置入时间和心电图QRS波宽度,电极置入后随访观察起搏阈值、感知、阻抗,电极脱位及相关并发症。结果主动固定电极组的置入时间和X线曝光时间均长于被动固定电极(26.34±6.54minvs20.86±4.32min,16.78±5.38minvs8.67±4.52min;P均<0.01)。主动固定电极组电极置入15min时较置入即刻的起搏阈值明显下降(0.76±0.21mVvs1.12±0.25mV,P<0.01)。主动固定电极组起搏的QRS波时限较被动固定电极组短(0.14±0.04msvs0.16±0.03ms,P<0.01)。术后随访1,3,6个月,两组的起搏阈值、感知、阻抗均无差异,未见电极脱位等并发症。结论主动固定电极在右室流出道间隔部起搏中的应用是可行和稳定的。     

Intermittent atrial sensing in a VDD pacemaker

This report deals with a patient with single-lead VDD pacemaker and intermittent atrial sensing failure. At first glance, the electrocardiogram suggested a VVI mechanism of pacing, being paced QRS complexes dissociated from sinus P waves: this revealed that intracardiac atrial electrograms were too small to reach the sensing threshold. At times, however, a sinus P wave triggered ventricular pacing. This only occurred when the spontaneous atrial activity fell within a critical interval ranging from 430 to 480 milliseconds from the previous paced QRS complex. Analysis of pulsed wave Doppler mitral flow recording demonstrated that atrial sensing and related ventricular pacing occurred whenever a sinus P wave coincided with the opening click of mitral valve. In this circumstance, the atrial volume decrease allowed the freely floating atrial lead to lie close to the right atrial wall, favoring sensing of a small intracardiac electrogram.     

右室间隔部起搏与右室心尖部起搏的比较

目的:评价右室间隔部(RVS)起搏的稳定性及对比RVS起搏和右室心尖部(RVA)对血流动力学影响。方法:22例植入DDD起搏器患者,分为RVS组和RVA组,比较两组术中及术后起搏参数及血流动力学参数变化。结果:RVS组术中测试起搏阈值及电流均高于RVA组,术后1个月差异无统计学意义;RVS组QRS波群宽度较RVA组小(P0.05);RVS组X线曝光时间较RVA组长(P0.05);术中阻抗及R波振幅无显著差异。术后6个月,RVS组左室射血分数(LVEF)、心脏指数(CI)、每搏量(SV)、二尖瓣血流E峰和A峰最大充盈速度比值(E/A)较RVA组明显提高,术前两组无明显差异。结论:RVS起搏安全、有效,RVS起搏血流动力学参数明显优于RVA组。     

Identification and catheter ablation of a zone of slow conduction in the reentrant circuit of ventricular tachycardia in humans

Three patients who had incessant ventricular tachycardia and in whom a zone of slow conduction was identified are presented. Each patient's tachycardia was refractory to multiple antiarrhythmic drugs and was being treated with amiodarone at the time of the electrophysiologic study. The ventricular tachycardia cycle length was 500 to 580 ms. In Patients 1 and 2, a single site at the posterolateral wall or low septum in the left ventricle was identified at which overdrive pacing during ventricular tachycardia resulted in ventricular capture with a stimulus to QRS interval of 280 to 400 ms and with little or no change in the configuration of the QRS complexes during pacing as compared with during ventricular tachycardia. In Patient 3, the same phenomenon was observed at two areas in the left ventricle: at the inferior wall, overdrive pacing during ventricular tachycardia resulted in a stimulus to QRS interval of 440 to 470 ms, whereas at the posterolateral wall, the stimulus to QRS interval was 320 to 360 ms. Transcatheter shocks of 100 to 240 J delivered at the pacing sites have been successful in preventing recurrences of ventricular tachycardia over a follow-up period of 10 to 11 months. These observations may be explained by the pacing site being located within a reentrant circuit in a zone of slow conduction bounded by inexcitable tissue between the pacing site and the exit site of the reentrant circuit. In Patient 3, the variable stimulus to QRS intervals are explained by variable proximity of the pacing sites within the slow conduction zone to the exit site of the reentrant circuit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

新型食管心脏调搏电极导管的研制与应用

研制一种新型食管心脏调搏电极导管，以进一步降低食管心脏调搏术的起搏阈值，减轻受检者痛苦，便于开展食管心室调搏术。第一阶段：设制出各型食管电极导管12种，每种导管随机测试病人20例，共240例，以揭示起搏阈值与电极宽度、电极长度和电极间距三者关系。第二阶段：据此，研制2种新型食管心脏调谐电极导管，每种导管随机测试病人40例，共80例。结果发现食管心脏调搏电极导管的最适电极宽度为5～6mm、电极长度为10mm和电极间距为35mm，按此规格研制的JD－2－9－35－10－5型和JD－2－9－35－10－6型新型食管心脏调搏电极导管，心房调掉时起搏阈值分别为12．1±3．2（5．0～17．5）V和10．3±2．6（5．0～15．0）V，心室调搏时起搏阈值分别为24．0±5．5（15．0～35．0）V和20．3±4．9（12．5～30．0）V，心室调搏的成功率分别为85％（34／40）和95％（38／40）。结论：与目前国内常用的食管电极导管比较，该导管具有起搏阈值低、病人痛苦少、适应性广、性能可靠和操作方便等优点。