Automatic capture verification in ICD lead systems using intracardiac ventricular evoked response and reduced coupling capacitance.

AIM: Intracardiac ventricular evoked-response (ER) signals detected by implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead systems were investigated for automatic capture verification (AC). METHOD: ER signals were evaluated with an external pacing system equipped with a reduced coupling capacitance (CC=2.2 microF) in the pacing output circuit during ventricular step-down threshold testing at 0.4 ms pulse duration. Real-time pacing markers, surface ECG and intracardiac electrograms pre- and post-filtering were digitally recorded. RESULTS: Twenty consecutive patients, age 61+/-12 years, with leads from two different manufacturers were tested - 10 were implanted with acute leads (AL) and 10 with chronic leads (CL). The analysis was based on the ER amplitude during capture and on the ER-to-afterpotential ratio (SAR), with SAR>2 as the criterion for successful capture detection. ER amplitudes (median and range) were 8.1 mV (2.1-19.5 mV) for AL and 8.3 mV (3.7-14.2 mV) for CL. SAR values (median and range) were 48.0 (2.5-682.6) for AL and 13.2 (6.3-35.9) for CL, indicating that AC could successfully be applied in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the pacing CC allows adequate ER detection for automatic capture verification on non-selected ICD lead systems. The effect of high-voltage shock treatment on ER signal detection requires further investigation.     

Impact of Automatic Adjustment of Stimulation Outputs on Pacemaker Longevity in a New Dual-Chamber Pacing System

Introduction: Automatic capture verification using the Autocapture (AC) feature enabled by paced evoked response detection and delivery of high energy back-up pulses intends to increase patient safety. Furthermore, adjustment of stimulation outputs can save energy and potentially improve pacemaker (PM) longevity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the theoretical longevity of a new dual chamber PM with the integrated AC feature (Affinity DR, St. Jude Medical) in comparison to the longevity of a previous model from the same manufacturer without AC (Trilogy DR). Method: Affinity PMs were implanted in 16 patients and connected to a compatible lead with low polarization properties. AC was activated when the evoked response was significantly higher than the polarization voltage. Theoretical PM longevity was calculated with and without AC during follow-up. The measured and calculated values were compared to measurements in 19 patients, who consecutively received Trilogy-PMs during the same time period. Results: In only one patient the evoked response was not adequate, and as a result, AC was not programmed. The calculated longevity of the Affinity-PMs 79 ± 28 days after implantation was significantly higher in comparison to the Trilogy-PMs (Affinity-PMs: 8.9 ± 1.2 years without and 9.5 ± 1.1 years with AC; Trilogy-PMs: 6.5 ± 0.8 years) (p < 0.005). Conclusion: The AC feature is an optional algorithm that can be activated in most patients and it significantly prolongs predicted battery longevity due to automatic adjustment of stimulation outputs.     

Automatic Atrial Anti-Tachy Pacing for the Termination of Spontaneous Atrial Tachyarrhythmias: Clinical Experience with a Novel Dual-Chamber Pacemaker

Automatic atrial anti-tachy pacing (aATP) is a novel approach to treat paroxysmal/persistent atrial tachyarrhythmias in pacemaker patients. To evaluate the efficacy of aATP in terminating spontaneous atrial flutter/tachycardia episodes (AT), a dual-chamber stimulator with extensive diagnostic capabilities and programmable aATP therapies (AT500^TM, Medtronic Inc.) was implanted in 30 patients with conventional pacing indications. During a mean follow-up time of 5.5 (1–12) months, aATP was delivered for 10494 AT. According to automatic device analysis, 8289 AT were treated with success (success-rate 79.0%). On 468 AT stored with the corresponding atrial EGM, an additional manual analysis was performed. The success-rate based on automatic analysis of these AT episodes (73.1%) was comparable to that found for all treated AT (79.0%), but manual EGM analysis revealed that only 209 of the 468 treated AT episodes (44.7%) were actually terminated by aATP. The aATP success-rate in the slower (cycle length 360–270ms) AT detection zone was significantly higher (73.8%, 62/84eps) than in the overlapping, faster (cycle length 270–220ms) AT zone (38.3%, 147/384eps, P<0.01). Conclusions: According to manual analysis, 1. aATP was safe and had a success-rate of 44.7%, 2. aATP success-rate was higher for AT in the slower than in the faster detection zone and 3. automatic analysis overestimated the efficacy of aATP.     

Pace-Termination and Pacing for Prevention of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias: Results from a Multicenter Study with an Implantable Device for Atrial Therapy

INTRODUCTION: Patients with bradycardia requiring permanent pacing frequently suffer from additional atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs). This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of atrial antitachycardia pacing (ATP) and the performance of pacing for AT prevention implemented into a new pacemaker. METHODS AND RESULTS: In patients with conventional indications for permanent pacing, an investigational DDDRP pacemaker (Medtronic AT500, model 7253) was implanted. The primary study objectives were to determine the safety of overall device functioning and its efficacy in terminating spontaneous AT. A secondary endpoint was to determine the reliability of AT detection. Pacemaker memory functions were used to analyze the impact of dedicated pacing algorithms on AT prevention. In 33 European and Canadian centers, 325 patients were enrolled (mean follow-up 2.3+/-1.3 months). Complication-free survival at 3 months was 88%. In 2,145 episodes stored with atrial electrograms, AT detection was confirmed in 97%. The algorithm for continuous overdrive pacing increased the percentage of atrial pacing to 97%. After ATP activation, 16,683 of 52,468 AT episodes were treated (120 patients). Of these, 8,903 episodes (53%) were terminated successfully by ATP. No proarrhythmic effect of preventive pacing or atrial ATP was observed. Preventive pacing algorithms increased the median percentage of atrial pacing from 62% to 97%. However, the number of AT/AF (atrial fibrillation) episodes (4.1 vs 4.1 per patient per day) and the time in AT/AF (13.7% vs 12.8%) was not significantly different before and after activation of preventive pacing. CONCLUSION: DDDRP pacing with a new system for AT therapy was safe and associated with successful pace-termination of AT in 53% of episodes. Preventive pacing and atrial ATP algorithms represent two new functions that can be implemented safely into pacemaker systems for nonpharmacologic treatment of ATs in patients requiring pacemaker therapy.     

Effect of Atrial Tachyarrhythmia Duration on Percentage of Time with Atrial Pacing in Pacemaker Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial pacing can prevent the recurrence of paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) in pacemaker patients. The aim of the study was to determine in pacemaker patients the effect of AT duration on the percentage of time with atrial pacing by programming the same setting twice. METHODS: In 14 pacemaker patients with paroxysmal AT the dual-chamber pacemaker was programmed to identical parameters for two consecutive follow-up periods. The pacemakers were interrogated after three months to determine the percentage of time with atrial pacing relative to the total time of follow-up periods and the AT duration (atrial rates >150 bpm). The two three-month follow-up periods were compared to each other. The differences between the two follow-up periods were determined for the percentage of time with atrial pacing as well as for the AT duration. To assess the relationship between atrial pacing and AT duration, the differences between the two follow-up periods for atrial pacing and AT duration were correlated to each other. In addition, the percentage of atrial pacing was corrected for AT duration. RESULTS: Median percentage of atrial pacing relative to the complete follow-up period was 73% after the first and 76% after the second period and median AT duration 21% and 18%, respectively (not significantly different). The differences between the first and second study period were 1% for atrial pacing and -2% for AT duration. The percentage of atrial pacing and AT duration were inversely related together with a significant correlation coefficient of r = 0.95 ( p = 0.0001). After atrial pacing was corrected for AT duration, the percentage of atrial pacing relative to the time in sinus rhythm was significantly higher with a median of 93% for the first and second period ( p = 0.005). The correlation coefficient between the percentage of atrial pacing relative to the time in sinus rhythm and AT duration was r = 0.08 (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of time with atrial pacing can be underestimated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and should be carefully interpreted in relation to AT duration.     

特殊心房起搏程序预防和治疗心房颤动研究进展

心房颤动是临床上最常见的心律失常之一,严重影响了患者的生活质量,增加病死率。根据心房颤动发生的电生理机制,许多起搏器公司设计了可以减少或预防心房颤动发生的起搏程序。现就这些特殊程序的具体工作原理做一综述。     

A Prospective Randomized Study to Assess the Efficacy of Rate and Site of Atrial Pacing on Long-Term Development of Atrial Fibrillation

The Septal Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Evaluation (SAFE) study is a single-blinded, parallel randomized designed multicenter study in pacemaker indicated patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective is to evaluate whether the site of atrial pacing–-conventional right atrial appendage versus low atrial septal—with or without atrial overdrive pacing will influence the development of persistent AF. The study will provide a definitive answer to whether a different atrial pacing site or the use of AF suppression pacing or both can give incremental antiarrhythmic benefit when one is implanting a device for a patient with a history of paroxysmal AF.     

A Novel Mechanism of Failure to Detect Atrial Arrhythmias by Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Failed Atrial Arrhythmia Detection by Pacemakers and ICDs. A 64‐year‐old man with complete heart block, status post‐Medtronic dual chamber pacemaker insertion, failed ablation for atrial tachycardia at an outside institution. Despite persistent palpitations and known unsuccessful ablation, pacemaker interrogation revealed no evidence of atrial arrhythmias. At electrophysiology study, burst pacing from the high right atrium and distal coronary sinus at 370 ms revealed bidirectional 2:1 interatrial conduction block. Left atrial burst pacing at 260 ms induced an atrial tachycardia (cycle length 340 ms) with 2:1 left to right atrial block and right atrial activation at 680 ms. The tachycardia was localized to the lateral left atrial roof. A series of ablation lesions from left to right superior pulmonary vein terminated the tachycardia. Left to right interatrial conduction block is a mechanism for underdetection of atrial arrhythmias with implantable devices not previously described. As the extent of atrial ablation increases, the incidence of this mechanism of underdetection may increase. Though devices are often considered ideal for atrial arrhythmia detection and are used in multiple trials, detection failures can occur despite appropriate device function. This case underscores the need for electrocardiographic monitoring in addition to device‐based electrogram monitoring. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 325–328, March 2010)     

Understanding capture detection.

Automatic capture detection systems are currently available in several cardiac pacing devices. All current systems use low-polarization electrodes and no beat to beat detection system is available for all types of electrodes. In addition the success ratio for currently available systems is not always 100%. Failure to detect capture reliably is often related to the behaviour of the electrode-tissue interface under different circumstances. Pacemaker electrodes can be considered electrochemical cells with complicated characteristics depending on time, temperature and electrical charge. This electrochemical cell is disturbed when a charge is transferred across the electrode-tissue interface during pacing. Several measures can be taken in order to minimise this disturbance or pace polarization artefact (PPA) including the use of high active surface area electrodes and application of tri-phasic pacing pulses. Another factor influencing detection of evoked potentials is the input circuit of the pacemaker affecting the PPA and the evoked response. Positive PPAs can be falsely interpreted as evoked potentials due to the undershoot of the second order filters applied in modern cardiac pacemakers. This paper explains the behaviour of the interface between the electrode and the cardiac tissue in combination with the pacemaker output circuits and input amplifiers under different circumstances.     

Detection of Atrial Fibrillation by Permanent Pacemakers: Observations from the STOP AF Trial

Pacemaker telemetry is increasingly being used to infer the presence or absence of arrhythmias in clinical practice. To evaluate the reliability of these data in patients with sick-sinus syndrome, a sub-study of eighteen consecutive patients in the Systematic Trial of Pacing to prevent Atrial Fibrillation (STOP AF) implanted with dual-chamber pacemakers had simultaneous 24-hour Holter recordings and pacemaker telemetry down-loaded. Whilst heart rate data were very similar, telemetry data achieved only 57% sensitivity with 64% specificity for the presence of atrial fibrillation on Holter recording over 24 hours. False-positive results were due to far-field sensing while false-negatives were seen with very short episodes of atrial fibrillation. The pacemaker's anti-tachycardia responses were not specific for the detection of atrial fibrillation.There are very few published reports correlating pacemaker diagnostic data and stored electrograms with external Holter monitoring. We believe that more validation studies of are needed before pacemaker diagnostic data can be used with confidence in clinical practice. It is unlikely that current devices with sophisticated detection algorithms will fail to detect prolonged episodes of arrhythmia and their capacity to confirm events with stored electrograms, intervals and markers reduces the possibility of false-positives, but care must be taken in the interpretation of stored data from devices without these capabilities. Equally, it cannot be assumed that if intracardiac electrograms from one episode confirm the presence of an arrhythmia, that all recorded events have been similarly correctly interpreted.We have shown in a sub-study of STOP-AF that simple mathematical models using heart rate bin analysis are not reliable for detection of arrhythmias with short durations. Despite these limitations, the potential of implanted pacemakers to record cardiac rhythm and trends, such as heart-rate variability, over time remains an exciting prospect, particularly in guiding individual patient therapy.     

The Results of Pacing Trials for the Prevention and Termination of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias: Is There Any Evidence of Therapeutic Breakthrough?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is now recognized as the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia and it is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity. The demand for effective therapeutic strategies for AF has always been high and is anticipated to further increase. Anticoagulation and pharmacologic antiarrhythmic therapy or radiofrequency catheter ablation remain the mainstay of treatment for AF. Among the wide range of nonpharmacologic options which are presently being investigated, only ablation in or around the pulmonary veins and the surgical maze procedure have been shown to accomplish the aim of the curative treatment of the arrhythmia.Preventative atrial pacing and antitachycardia pacing may offer an attractive alternative option for the management of AF by either eliminating the triggers and/or by modifying the substrate of the arrhythmia. The results of several recent trials have shown a significant increase in the time to first AF recurrence, a decrease in atrial conduction time, and a trend towards reduction in AF burden, suggesting that atrial pacing may prevent AF due to improved synchronization of atrial depolarization.The recognition of potential triggers of AF, such as atrial premature complexes, short-long sequence, and bradycardia, has encouraged the development of novel atrial pacing algorithms designed to prevent the initiation of the arrhythmia on an individual basis. Observations of AF often starting with regular atrial activity consistent with atrial tachycardia have supported the hypothesis that early antitachycardia pacing may prevent progression to AF.The concept of 'hybrid therapy' based on the combination of several different therapeutic strategies suggests that antitachycardia pacing therapy, integrated with an atrial defibrillator and preventative atrial pacing modes, may act synergistically to prevent AF. Dual chamber cardioverter-defibrillators with capacity to prevent and interrupt AF may offer more comprehensive and successful treatment for patients with advanced heart disease, frequent paroxysms of AF, and the risk of proarrhythmia.     

Effects of High-Frequency Atrial Pacing in Atypical Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation

Atypical atrial flutter has, hitherto, been relatively refractory totermination by rapid atrial pacing. High-frequency pacing (HFP) in theatrium, for termination of atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation (AF), andthe electrophysiologic effects related to it have not been examined. Weexamined the clinical efficacy, safety, and electrophysiologic mechanisms ofHFP using 50-Hz bursts at 10 mA applied at the high right atrium in patientswith atypical atrial flutter (group 1) or AF (group 2), using a prospectiverandomized study protocol. Four burst durations (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000ms) were applied at the high right atrium repetitively in random sequence in22 patients with spontaneous atrial flutter or AF. Local and distant rightand left atrial electrogram recordings were analyzed during and after HFP.HFP resulted in local and distant right and left atrial electrogramacceleration in 8 of 10 patients (80%) in group 1 but caused lessfrequent local atrial electrogram acceleration (6 of 12 patients) and nodistant atrial electrogram effects in group 2 (p < .05 versus group 1).The HFP protocol was effective in arrhythmia termination in 6 of 10patients in group 1 but in no patient in group 2 (p < .05 versus group1). Standard HFP protocol applied at the high right atrium can frequentlyalter atrial activation in both atria and can terminate atypical atrialflutter. Efficacy in AF is limited, probably due to limitedelectrophysiologic actions beyond the local pacing site.     

Reduction of the pace polarization artefact for capture detection applications by a tri-phasic stimulation pulse.

This study investigated the ability to minimize pace polarization artefacts (PPA) by adjusting the post-stimulus pulse duration of a tri-phasic stimulation pulse. Adjustment of the stimulation pulse was enabled by downloading special study software into an already implanted pacemaker. Tests were performed in a total of 296 atrial leads and 311 ventricular leads. Both chronic and acute leads were included in the study. Statistically significant differences were found in the initial PPA (without any adjustment of the stimulus pulse) between atrial and ventricular leads. In addition, significant differences were observed among various lead models with respect to changes over time in the initial ventricular PPA. Successful PPA reduction was defined as a reduction of the PPA below 0.5 mV for atrial leads and below 1 mV for ventricular leads. Results show a success rate for ventricular and atrial PPA reduction of 97.8% and 98.7%, respectively. Threshold tests showed that after reduction of the PPA loss of ventricular capture can be reliably detected. However, atrial threshold tests showed many false positive evoked response detections. In addition, unexpectedly high evoked response amplitudes were observed in the atrium after reduction of the PPA. Results from additional measurements suggest that these high atrial evoked response amplitudes come from the influence of the input filter of the pacemaker.     

Failure of Automatic Capture Verification in an Epicardial Pacemaker System

Epicardial pacing is frequently used in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. Automatic threshold determination has been reported to be safe in epicardial lead systems. We report a case of falsely low ventricular thresholds determined by automatic capture verification in a patient with complete loss of capture due to a lead fracture.     

Atrial Pacing Therapies for Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Implantable Defibrillators

Atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia (AT) occur frequently in patients following implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for the treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Some new generation ICDs have incorporated atrial antitachycardia pacing therapy (ATP) and atrial pacing algorithms designed specifically for the prevention of AF. In the GEM III AT clinical evaluation, atrial ATP efficacy for termination of AF and AT was assessed. Overall ATP efficacy for AF/AT, based on device classification, was 40% when adjusted using the Generalized Estimating Equations to account for correlated data that arises from utilizing multiple episodes in some patients. However, many episodes of AF/AT were noted to terminate within 10 minutes of onset. Applying a more conservative definition of efficacy, termination within 20 sec of delivery of the last atrial ATP, efficacy for termination of AF/AT was 26%. 50 Hz burst pacing was shown to have minimal efficacy for termination of AF and modest incremental benefit following ramp or burst pacing therapies for AT. These observations provide a more realistic expectation of the value of atrial ATP in the ICD population with AF. Atrial ATP terminates some episodes of AT but previously reported efficacy rates of 40-50% are exaggerated and in part reflect spontaneous terminations of some AF/AT episodes.     

Dual Site Right Atrial Pacing can Improve the Impact of Standard Dual Chamber Pacing on Atrial and Ventricular Mechanical Function in Patients with Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Further Observations from the Dual Site Atrial Pacing for Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation Trial

Background: The effects of atrial pacing mode on atrial and ventricular function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and bradycardia have not been evaluated. We evaluated atrial and ventricular function during randomization to support pacing (SP), high right atrial pacing (HRA), and dual site right atrial pacing (DAP).Methods: Seventy-nine patients (66 ± 12 yr, 46 male) with standard pacing indications and symptomatic AF were randomized to each of three pacing modes (DAP, HRA, SP) for 6 months in a crossover design. Echocardiographic studies were performed at enrollment and the end of each mode. Paired comparisons of atrial and ventricular function parameters were performed between each pacing mode and baseline.Results: HRA pacing in DDDR mode resulted in increased left ventricular (LV) end systolic volume (78 ± 42 vs. 60 ± 31 ml, p = 0.001) and reduced LV ejection fraction (44 ± 14 vs. 50 ± 11%, p = 0.007) compared to baseline. These parameters did not change during DAP. DAP resulted in increased peak A wave velocity (75 ± 19 vs. 63 ± 23 cm/s, p = 0.003) and atrial filling fraction compared to baseline (0.47 ± 0.15 vs. 0.38 ± 0.13, p = 0.005). Atrial and ventricular function were similar between control and SP.Conclusion: DAP, but not HRA or SP, improved left atrial (LA) function in patients with AF and bradycardia. HRA pacing in DDDR mode resulted in LA dilatation and deterioration of LV function which was not observed with DAP.This study was supported by a grant from the Electrophysiology Research Foundation, Warren, NJ and Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN. Drs. Delfaut and Prakash were supported by grants from the Electrophysiology Research Foundation during the term of this study. Drs. Saksena and Nanda were consultants to Medtronic during this study. Dr. Hettrick and Mr. Ziegler are employees of Medtronic.     

Effectiveness of Rapid Atrial Pacing for Termination of Drug Refractory Atrial Fibrillation: Results of a Dual Chamber Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Trial

There is increasing interest in the use of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to manage atrial tachyarrhythmias. Although device-based shock therapy is highly effective in terminating persistent atrial tachyarrhythmias, atrial overdrive pacing may also be useful, particularly when this therapy is applied early after the onset of an arrhythmia. A dual-chamber ICD (Medtronic 7250 Jewel AF(R)) has been studied in 267 patients with drug-refractory symptomatic AF. The patients were enrolled as part of multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the device to manage atrial tachyarrhythmias in the absence of a standard ventricular ICD indication. The device discriminates atrial tachycardia (AT) from atrial fibrillation (AF) based on cycle length and regularity, and employs multiple methods of atrial overdrive pacing as well as shocks to terminate tachyarrhythmia episodes. Patients were followed for an average of 15.8 +/- 9.3 months. A majority (63%) of patients presented with a history of persistent AF and 34% presented with a history of paroxysmal AF. The pacing therapies terminated 54% of AT episodes and 27% of AF episodes. In patients with persistent AF, 75% of the AT/AF episodes that were successfully terminated by pacing lasted 相似文献   

Dual Site Right Atrial Pacing in the Prevention of Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation Refractory to Drug Therapy and Unrelated to Sinus Bradycardia

Dual-site right atrial pacing has been shown recently to prevent atrial fibrillation relapses in patients affected by drug-refractory, highly-recurring tachyarrhythmia, associated to sinus bradycardia. The aim of our study was to verify whether this stimulation modality could be useful in patients affected by refractory atrial fibrillation unassociated to sinus bradycardia. Methods and Results: Fifteen patients (6 males) affected by refractory, symptomatic atrial fibrillation, and potential candidates to AV node ablation, were prospectively enrolled. Mean age was 65±5 years (range 62–78). Associated pathology was arterial hypertension in 12, and dilated cardiomyopathy in 3. Eight patients were affected by persistent atrial fibrillation, and seven by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The duration of the arrhythmia was 61±63 months (range 3–216). Left atrial diameter was 39.4±4.2 mm (range 33–46), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 52.4±12.2 mm (range 41–90), and left ventricular ejection fraction was 55±16 (range 18–81). Single chamber atrial pacing was used in 10 patients, dual chamber in 5 patients.The mean duration of follow up was 24±12 months (range 3–41). During this period the number of episodes of atrial fibrillation decreased from a mean of 13±38 (range 1–1 ± ) to 0.4±0.7 (range 0–2.3) per month (p < 0.001). In the subgroup of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation the number of episodes decreased from a mean of 20.4±52.4 (range 1–1 ± ) to 0.6±0.9 (range 0–2.3) (p < 0.001). In patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation the number of episodes decreased from 4.6±3.5 (range 2–12) to 0.2±0.5 (range 0–1.4) (p < 0.001). One patient (6.7%) developed chronic atrial fibrillation 16 months after the implant, 2 remaining patients (13%) had their arrhythmia unaltered. After the implant the number of Class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs fell from 18 to 6 (p < 0.001) and that of Class 2 changed from 0 to 7 (p < 0.001). The use of Class 3 and 4 did not change significantly. No complications related to implant were observed. Conclusions: Permanent dual-site right atrial pacing can prevent atrial fibrillation recurrences in patients affected by highly symptomatic episodes unassociated to sinus bradycardia.     

Pacing with capture verification in candidates for resynchronisation therapy: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Devices for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) deliver energy into 3 output channels. Such a burden can significantly reduce device longevity. Autocapture has been shown to improve pacemaker longevity and safety of right ventricular pacing in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of Autocapture during biventricular pacing (BIV) to decrease the energy cost of CRT. METHODS: During implantation of BIV devices, an acute study was performed to test the hypothesis that the evoked response (ER) elicited by each delivered stimulus is correctly detected and measured either on the right ventricular (RV) channel during BIV pacing with the left ventricular (LV) channel pacing first, or in the LV channel with the RV channel pacing first. A reliable measurement of ER is the critical requirement for the correct performance of Autocapture. RESULTS: ER amplitude in the right ventricle during BIV pacing was not significantly decreased compared with RV pacing in the VVI mode (16.36+/-5.27 mV vs 17.09+/-6.12 mV). ER amplitude in the left ventricle during BIV pacing was not significantly decreased compared with LV pacing in the VVI mode (12.4+/-8.95 mV vs 12.25+/-8.97 mV). Three patients in atrial fibrillation had a DDDR pacemaker with the LV lead connected to the atrial port, and received BIV pacing with Autocapture turned on in the RV channel. Autocapture performance in the long term, as assessed by the trend of RV threshold over 20+/-8 months, showed that LV depolarisation was never sensed as an ER on the RV channel. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations support the feasibility and safety of capture verification during BIV pacing on the ventricular channel paced secondly, which could increase the longevity of CRT devices, and decrease the costs of this new therapy for heart failure patients.     

抗心房颤动起搏器的应用初探

为评价心房程序起搏治疗阵发性心房颤动 (简称房颤 )的有效性 ,1 1例阵发性房颤患者中 1 0例置入Selec tion90 0E(AF2 .0 )型起搏器、1例置入IntegrityTMAFXDR5346型起搏器。对患者进行术前 1个月和术后 1 ,2个月阵发性房颤事件和SF 36生活质量调查。结果 :患者术后 1 ,2个月较术前 1个月在有症状阵发性房颤事件数和生活质量评分有明显降低 (1 3 .0 1± 8.51 ,9.81± 5 .91vs 2 7.0 0± 1 3 .2 1 ;62 .82± 2 1 .57,55 .73± 1 8.48vs 1 1 0 .0 0± 1 6 .57,P值均<0 .0 5) ,术后 2个月较术后 1个月有症状阵发性房颤事件数 (9.81± 5 .91vs 1 3 .0 1± 8.51 )、阵发性房颤总数 (2 1 0 .0 0± 2 69.59vs 30 9.82± 41 8.1 4 )、房颤总持续时间 (6 .0 0± 4 .1 4dvs 7.87± 4 .2 6d)、房颤负荷 (2 0 .0 1 %± 1 3 .80 %vs 2 6 .2 4 %± 1 4 .2 0 % )及生活质量评分 (55 .73± 1 8.48vs 62 .82± 2 1 .57)均降低 (P值均 <0 .0 5)。结论 :心房程序起搏能够减少阵发性房颤事件的发生 ,降低房颤负荷 ,有望成为阵发性房颤药物治疗的重要辅助手段