A survey of cardiac implantable electronic device implantation in India: By Indian Society of Electrocardiology and Indian Heart Rhythm Society

BackgroundThere is limited data regarding the demographics and type of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) in India.AimThe aim of this survey was to define trends in CIED implants, which included permanent pacemakers (PM), intracardiac defibrillators (ICD), and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and defibrillators (CRT-P/D) devices in India.MethodsThe survey was the initiative of the Indian Society of Electrocardiology and the Indian Heart Rhythm Society. The type of CIED used, their indications, demographic characteristics, clinical status and co-morbidities were collected using a survey form over a period of 1 year.Results2117 forms were analysed from 136 centers. PM for bradyarrhythmic indication constituted 80% of the devices implanted with ICD's and CRT-P/D forming approximately 10% each. The most common indication for PM implantation was complete atrio-ventricular block (76%). Single chamber (VVI) pacemakers formed 54% of implants, majority in males (64%). The indication for ICD implantation was almost equal for primary and secondary prevention. A single chamber ICD was most commonly implanted (65%). Coronary artery disease was the etiology in 58.5% of patients with ICD implants. CRT pacemakers were implanted mostly in patients with NYHA III/IV (82%), left ventricular ejection fraction <0.35 (88%) with CRT-P being most commonly used (57%).ConclusionA large proportion of CIED implants in India are PM for bradyarrhythmic indications, predominantly AV block. ICD's are implanted almost equally for primary and secondary prophylaxis. Most CRT devices are implanted for NYHA Class III. There is a male predominance for implantation of CIED.     

Intermediate-term mortality and incidence of ICD therapy in octogenarians after cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background Clinical outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy （CRT） in patients over the age of 80 have not been well de-scribed.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 96 consecutive patients≥ 80 years old who underwent an initial implant or an upgrade to CRT, with or without defibrillator （CRT-Dvs. CRT-P）, at our institution between January 2003 and July 2008. The control cohort consisted of 177 randomly selected patients 〈 80 years old undergoing CRT implant during the same time period. The primary efficacy endpoint was all-cause mortality at 36 months, assessed by Kaplan-Meier time to first event curves.Results In the octogenarian cohort, mean age at CRT implant was 83.1 ± 2.9 yearsvs. 60.1 ± 8.8 years among controls （P 〈 0.001）. Across both groups, 70% were male, mean left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） was 24.8% ± 14.1% and QRS duration was 154 ± 24.8 ms, without significant differences between groups. Octo-genarians were more likely to have ischemic cardiomyopathy （74%vs. 37%,P 〈 0.001） and more likely to undergo upgrade to CRT instead of an initial implant （42%vs. 19%,P 〈 0.001）. The rate of appropriate defibrillator shocks was lower among octogenarians （14%vs. 27%,P = 0.02） whereas the rate of inappropriate shocks was similar （3%vs. 6%,P = 0.55）. At 36 months, there was no significant difference in the rate of all-cause mortality between octogenarians （11%） and controls （8%,P = 0.381）.ConclusionAppropriately selected octogenarians who are candidates for CRT have similar intermediate-term mortality compared to younger patients receiving CRT.     

Twiddler's syndrome in a patient with a biventricular-defibrillator device.

A 69-year-old man with previous myocardial infarction and proximal three-vessel coronary artery disease underwent coronary bypass grafting, with an epicardial lead placed on the lateral left ventricular wall during surgery. A cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) device was subsequently implanted using active right atrial and right ventricular leads, with the pulse generator placed in a pre-pectoral pocket. Four weeks later, the right atrial lead was failing to sense or capture, and chest X-ray revealed it had pulled out of the myocardium and coiled up behind the device; a diagnosis of Twiddler's syndrome was made. Twiddler's syndrome is unusual in patients with CRT-D devices and may cause symptoms such as inappropriate shocks and hiccups. Placement of the pulse generator in a sub-pectoral position may help prevent it.     

单中心心脏再同步治疗相关并发症分析

目的回顾性总结单中心心脏再同步治疗（CRT）相关并发症概况为临床对CRT患者的管理提供相关经验。 方法本研究为回顾性研究,纳入2009年6月至2021年6月在新疆医科大学第一附属医院心血管内科植入CRT的心力衰竭（心衰）患者,按照植入装置类型分为心脏再同步治疗除颤器（CRT-D）组和心脏再同步治疗起搏器（CRT-P）组,分析患者术中、术后发生左心室导线植入失败、膈肌刺激、冠状静脉系统损伤等相关并发症的情况及原因。 结果共纳入469例患者,其中男359例（359/469,76.55%）,年龄（62.31±11.69）岁,术前左心室射血分数为34.76%±7.96%,术前QRS时限为（161.82±30.57）ms。左心室导线植入成功率为95.1%（446/499）。术中膈肌刺激2例（0.43%）;急性左心衰竭3例（6.40%）;冠状静脉夹层15例（3.19%）;囊袋血肿4例（0.85%）;导线脱位10例（2.13%）,其中急性脱位2例（20%）、亚急性脱位4例（40%）、迟发性脱位4例（40%）。 结论CRT术中发生相关并发症的风险较高,同时也要警惕和排除发生相关术后并发症的可能。     

Interlead difference between T-peak to T-end intervals in resynchronization patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Background

The effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in preventing sudden cardiac death is controversial. Epicardial left ventricular pacing reverses the direction of activation of the left ventricular wall from the epicardium to the endocardium. We evaluated whether the interlead difference between T-peak to T-end (Tp-e) intervals determined by a 187-channel repolarization interval-difference mapping electrocardiograph (187-ch RIDM-ECG) is related to the occurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia requiring implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in heart failure patients receiving CRT with a defibrillator (CRT-D).

Methods and Results

Repolarization interval-difference mapping electrocardiograph (187-channel) was performed on 61 patients who received CRT-D. Twenty-one patients experienced appropriate ICD therapy. The interlead difference between corrected recovery time intervals was not significantly different between patients with and without appropriate ICD therapy (98 ± 24 milliseconds versus 88 ± 24 milliseconds). The interlead difference between corrected Tp-e intervals was significantly higher in patients with appropriate ICD therapy than in those without (88 ± 22 milliseconds versus 59 ± 23 milliseconds, P < .001).

Conclusion

The interlead difference between corrected Tp-e intervals determined by 187-ch RIDM-ECG may be related to appropriate ICD therapy in heart failure patients receiving CRT-D.     

110例心脏再同步化治疗中左室电极导线植入的临床经验和并发症分析

目的探讨心脏再同步化治疗(CRT)中左室电极的植入方法、特殊病情的个体化处理及并发症的预防。方法对110例心力衰竭患者行CRT。左室电极植入的方法:冠状静脉窦(CS)插管、CS及心脏静脉逆行造影(RCV)、选择靶静脉并植入电极。根据RCV静脉解剖特点选择靶静脉及特殊情况个体化处理。观察左室电极植入的成功率、左室电极的型号、置入CS靶静脉的部位、并发症。结果左室电极植入成功率为96.4%(106/110),4例左室电极未成功植入者包括1例植入DDD双腔起搏器、2例植入埋藏式心脏转复除颤器(ICD)及1例行心外膜左室电极植入术。9例特殊情况需个体化处理,其中2例心侧静脉狭窄应用球囊扩张数次,3例应用多根经皮球囊扩张冠状动脉成形术(PTCA)导丝加强支撑下植入左室电极,4例需更换不同型号或厂家的电极(包括3例术中和1例择期更换)。术中发生冠状静脉夹层或心肌穿孔5例(4.7%),仅1例择期CRT成功,另4例发生轻微夹层,少量或未见心包积液,但血流动力学稳定未影响左室电极置入。术中急性左室心力衰竭4例(3.7%),室性心动过速、心室颤动2例(1.9%),均经治疗未影响手术。结论左室电极植入有一定的风险和难度,采取个体化处理策略,可提高左室电极植入的成功率、并使并发症降至最低限度。     

心脏再同步治疗慢性心力衰竭的植入术并发症及术后病死率分析

目的分析心脏再同步治疗(CRT)术中、术后并发症及病死率。方法心力衰竭患者45例,男性37例,女性8例,年龄平均(61.08±11.16)岁,其中扩张性心肌病(DCM)30例,高血压性心脏病(HHD)5例,缺血性心肌病(CHD)10例,心功能Ⅲ级(NYHA分级)21例、Ⅳ级24例。均成功植入双心室起搏系统,平均随访(21.88±15.81)个月。结果(1)并发症左心室电极导线脱位2例(4.4%),膈肌跳动3例(6.7%),心脏静脉穿孔1例(2.2%),术中急性左心衰竭1例(2.2%);(2)病死率45例患者共死亡11例(24.5%),其中3例为非心源性死亡(占总病死率的27%),8例为心源性死亡(占总病死率的73%)。在心源性死亡中,5例心脏性猝死(占心源性死亡的62.5%)。2例为急性心肌梗死后死亡(占心源性死亡的25.0%),死亡前未发生恶性室性心律失常。1例因心力衰竭恶化死亡(占心源性死亡的12.5%)。结论CRT植入术有一定的风险,主要是左心室电极导线的植入过程,需细心观察,仔细操作,才能把并发症降低到最低限度。CRT治疗能降低心力衰竭导致的病死率,但并不降低严重室性心律失常所致的猝死,为预防猝死应选用双心室起搏+植入型心律转复除颤器(CRT-D)治疗效果更佳。     

Therapeutic percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with a stenting procedure of a stenosed great cardiac vein in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy submitted to biventricular pacemaker implantation

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is recommended for select patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Here, we describe the case of a 62-year-old patient with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, of functional class NYHA III, with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and 90% stenosis of the great cardiac vein (GCV), which was revealed as a result of coronary sinus venography during a CRT-P implantation procedure. A left-ventricular electrode was introduced to the posterolateral vein. Following CRT-P implantation a partial improvement was observed. In view of the patient's remaining apical segment contractility disorder and the coexistence of great cardiac vein stenosis, a hypothesis was put forward that the cause of these disorders was passive hyperemia of a portion of the left ventricle. Successful GCV angioplasty and BMS implantation was followed by clinical and echocardiographic improvement.Two months after the angioplasty, occlusion of the vein was detected, but repeated percutaneous treatment was unsuccessful.     

心脏再同步化起搏及除颤器在心力衰竭治疗中的应用

目的总结在心力衰竭治疗中应用心脏再同步化起搏及除颤器(CRT-D)的初步体会和随访结果。方法病例入选标准①左室射血分数(LVEF)≤0.35;②QRS波时限≥120ms;③快速室性心律失常;④心功能分级Ⅱ～Ⅳ级。采用左锁骨下静脉穿刺,左室电极置入冠状静脉后侧分支或后分支,右室电极置入右室心尖,右房电极置入右心耳。结果3例均成功置入CRT-D,无严重并发症。左室电极1例置于心脏侧后静脉,另外2例置于心脏后静脉。除颤测试,2例为20J能量1次除颤成功。另1例20J、30J能量除颤未成功,通过调整除颤波斜率,30J成功除颤。随访期间,3例心功能分级、射血分数均有改善,心室起搏比例均超过95%。2例发生持续性室性心动过速,经抗心动过速起搏或除颤治疗成功转复。结论CRT-D能恢复心脏同步活动和识别、转复恶性室性心律失常,是充血性心力衰竭并恶性室性心律失常的有效治疗方法。