CRT-D在慢性心力衰竭患者的临床应用

目的 心脏再同步治疗（CRT）可以显著改善慢性心力衰竭（CHF）患者心功能,而植入型心律转复除颤器（ICD）可以有效预防心脏性猝死.具有CRT和ICD功能的CRT-D已开始应用于临床.本文初步总结CRT-D的临床应用.方法 4例药物治疗无效的CHF患者,合并左束支阻滞、左心室舒张末内径增大,而且既往有室性心动过速病史.其中扩张性心肌病3例,缺血性心肌病1例.接受组织多普勒检查证实存在心脏运动不同步后,接受了CRT-D治疗.结果 4例患者均成功植入CRT-D.左心室起搏导线植入到心脏后静脉3例,心脏侧后静脉1例.术中测试除颤能量≤20 J,无并发症发生.术后1周左心室射血分数从0.34增加至0.42。结论 CRT-D植入技术难度大,风险高,但其安全性肯定.鉴于其显著疗效,建议同时满足CRT和ICD适应证的患者应该接受CRT-D治疗.     

Therapeutic and diagnostic role of electrical devices in acute heart failure

Electrical devices, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) pacemakers, the Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) and a combination of both, constitute an important line of treatment in the therapy of moderate to severe chronic heart failure. The effectiveness of these devices in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure has yet to be systematically evaluated. However, the beneficial clinical effects of CRT translate into a marked reduction of heart failure-related hospitalization. Devices also offer unique diagnostic applications by continuous measurement of clinically useful physiological parameters over time. Of particular interest, monitoring of intrathoracic impedance and right ventricular pressures allows to detect changes in volume load in an early stage prior to the development of clinical symptoms. This information could be helpful to stop further progression to acute cardiac decompensation and to avoid hospitalization and acute clinical events. Using modern telecommunication technology, patients can also be remotely monitored in their daily living environment. In consequence, the incorporation of device technology into heart failure management programs calls for a close cooperation between heart failure specialists and electrophysiologists. This review addresses therapeutic and diagnostic aspects of device therapies in the context of acute heart failure. Disclosure information: the author of this review article receives research funding from Medtronic and St-Jude Medical, serves as a consultant to Medtronic and has received speakers honoraria from various device companies.     

Telemedical Interventional Monitoring in Heart Failure (TIM-HF), a randomized, controlled intervention trial investigating the impact of telemedicine on mortality in ambulatory patients with heart failure: study design

AIMS: Remote patient management (telemonitoring) may help to detect early signs of cardiac decompensation, allowing optimization of and adherence to treatments in chronic heart failure (CHF). Two meta-analyses have suggested that telemedicine in CHF can reduce mortality by 30-35%. The aim of the TIM-HF study was to investigate the impact of telemedical management on mortality in ambulatory CHF patients. Methods CHF patients [New York Heart Association (NYHA) II/III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≤35%] with a history of cardiac decompensation with hospitalization in the past or therapy with intravenous diuretics in the prior 24 months (no decompensation required if LVEF≤25%) were randomized 1:1 to an intervention group of daily remote device monitoring (electrocardiogram, blood pressure, body weight) coupled with medical telephone support or to usual care led by the patients' local physician. In the intervention group, 24/7 physician-led medical support was provided by two central telemedical centres. A clinical event committee blinded to treatment allocation assessed cause of death and reason for hospitalization. The primary endpoint was total mortality. The first secondary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular mortality or hospitalization due to heart failure. Other secondary endpoints included cardiovascular mortality, all-cause and cause-specific hospitalizations (all time to first event) as well as days lost due to heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death (in % of follow-up time), and changes in quality of life and NYHA class. Overall, 710 CHF patients were recruited. The mean follow-up was 21.5±7.2 months, with a minimum of 12 months. Perspective The study will provide important prospective outcome data on the impact of telemedical management in patients with CHF.     

Biventricular vs. left univentricular pacing in heart failure: rationale, design, and endpoints of the B-LEFT HF study.

AIMS: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) confers sustained therapeutic benefits to patients suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF) due to systolic dysfunction associated with ventricular dyssynchrony. Biventricular (BiV) pacing has, thus far, been the preferred method, as it corrects both electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony. Left ventricular (LV) only pacing, which has conferred similar benefits in pilot studies, may be an alternative treatment method. 'Biventricular vs. left univentricular pacing with ICD back-up in heart failure patients' (B-LEFT HF) is an international, prospective, randomized, parallel-design, double-blind, clinical trial to examine whether LV only pacing is as safe and effective as BiV pacing in patients suffering from CHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The trial will randomly assign 172 patients to either LV only or BiV pacing. The study has prospectively defined efficacy endpoints to be evaluated at 6 months, which are (i) changes in functional capacity and degree of reverse remodelling (primary) and (ii) changes in the heart failure clinical composite response (secondary). CONCLUSION: Because LV only pacing in CRT is likely to be technically less challenging and costly than BiV, a specifically designed study is needed to compare the safety and effectiveness of the two configurations. B-LEFT HF has been designed to settle this critical issue.     

Need and evolution of need for device therapy in a community heart failure population

BACKGROUND: New guidelines for implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) have expanded the potential use for device therapy. The implications of this on a community heart failure (HF) population are unknown. AIM: To assess the need for device therapy and the change in need over time. METHODS: We reviewed device need in a community HF population using ESC guidelines. Change in need was assessed by comparing data between an annual visit called TP2 and an earlier visit called TP1. Patients' need and change in need between TP1 and TP2 was determined. RESULTS: 210 patients were included; mean age 70+/-12 years, 67% male and 54% ischaemic. At TP1, 34% of patients were suitable for ICD and 3% for CRT. At TP2, 22% and 1% were suitable respectively. Of those suitable for ICD at TP1, 19% lost the need at TP2; in addition 9% of patients unsuitable for ICD at TP1 had acquired the need by TP2. Fifty five percent of patients were unsuitable for ICD at either time point, and 16% were suitable at both time points. CRT need was negligible but also noted to change. CONCLUSION: ICD need is substantial in a community HF population, but CRT need is limited. ICD need changes significantly. Identifying those likely to change their need may optimise ICD use.