scholarly journals His Bundle Pacing: A New Frontier in the Treatment of Heart Failure

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Ali ◽  
Daniel Keene ◽  
Ahran Arnold ◽  
Matthew Shun-Shin ◽  
Zachary I Whinnett ◽  
...  

Biventricular pacing has revolutionised the treatment of heart failure in patients with sinus rhythm and left bundle branch block; however, left ventricular-lead placement is not always technically possible. Furthermore, biventricular pacing does not fully normalise ventricular activation and, therefore, the ventricular resynchronisation is imperfect. Right ventricular pacing for bradycardia may cause or worsen heart failure in some patients by causing dyssynchronous ventricular activation. His bundle pacing activates the ventricles via the native His-Purkinje system, resulting in true physiological pacing, and, therefore, is a promising alternate site for pacing in bradycardia and traditional CRT indications in cases where it can overcome left bundle branch block. Furthermore, it may open up new indications for pacing therapy in heart failure, such as targeting patients with PR prolongation, but a narrow QRS duration. In this article we explore the physiology, technology and potential roles of His bundle pacing in the prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Heart ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijian Huang ◽  
Lan Su ◽  
Shengjie Wu ◽  
Lei Xu ◽  
Fangyi Xiao ◽  
...  

ObjectivesHis bundle pacing (HBP) can potentially correct left bundle branch block (LBBB). We aimed to assess the efficacy of HBP to correct LBBB and long-term clinical outcomes with HBP in patients with heart failure (HF).MethodsThis is an observational study of patients with HF with typical LBBB who were indicated for pacing therapy and were consecutively enrolled from one centre. Permanent HBP leads were implanted if the LBBB correction threshold was <3.5V/0.5 ms or 3.0 V/1.0 ms. Pacing parameters, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class were assessed during follow-up.ResultsIn 74 enrolled patients (69.6±9.2 years and 43 men), LBBB correction was acutely achieved in 72 (97.3%) patients, and 56 (75.7%) patients received permanent HBP (pHBP) while 18 patients did not receive permanent HBP (non-permanent HBP), due to no LBBB correction (n=2), high LBBB correction thresholds (n=10) and fixation failure (n=6). The median follow-up period of pHBP was 37.1 (range 15.0–48.7) months. Thirty patients with pHBP had completed 3-year follow-up, with LVEF increased from baseline 32.4±8.9% to 55.9±10.7% (p<0.001), LVESV decreased from a baseline of 137.9±64.1 mL to 52.4±32.6 mL (p<0.001) and NYHA Class improvement from baseline 2.73±0.58 to 1.03±0.18 (p<0.001). LBBB correction threshold remained stable with acute threshold of 2.13±1.19 V/0.5 ms to 2.29±0.92 V/0.5 ms at 3-year follow-up (p>0.05).ConclusionspHBP improved LVEF, LVESV and NYHA Class in patients with HF with typical LBBB.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 288-298
Author(s):  
Nadine Ali ◽  
Mathew Shun Shin ◽  
Zachary Whinnett

Abstract Purpose of Review The aim of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is to improve cardiac function by delivering more physiological cardiac activation to patients with heart failure and conduction abnormalities. Biventricular pacing (BVP) is the most commonly used method for delivering CRT; it has been shown in large randomized controlled trials to significantly improve morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure. However, BVP delivers only modest reductions in ventricular activation time and is only beneficial in patients with prolonged QRS duration. In this review, we explore conduction system pacing as a method for delivering more effective ventricular resynchronization and to extend pacing therapy for heart failure to patients without left bundle branch block (LBBB). Recent Findings The aim of conduction system pacing is to provide physiological ventricular activation by directly stimulating the conduction system. Current modalities include His bundle and left conduction system pacing. His bundle pacing is the most established method; it has the potential to correct left bundle branch block and deliver more effective ventricular resynchronization than BVP. This translates into greater acute haemodynamic improvements and observational data suggests that His-CRT results in improvements in cardiac function and symptoms. AV-optimized His bundle pacing is being investigated in patients with heart failure and long PR interval without LBBB, to see if this improves exercise capacity. More recently, a technique for pacing the left bundle branch has been developed. Early studies show potential advantages including low and stable capture thresholds. Summary Conduction system pacing can deliver more effective ventricular resynchronization than BVP, which has the potential to deliver greater improvements in cardiac function. It may also provide the opportunity to extend pacing therapy for heart failure to patients who do not have LBBB. Further data is required from randomized trials to assess these promising pacing techniques.


EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Arnold ◽  
MJ Shun-Shin ◽  
N Ali ◽  
JP Howard ◽  
D Keene ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy delivered via biventricular pacing is thought to improve haemodynamic function through resynchronization of ventricular activation. Biventricular pacing also improves ventricular filling by shortening atrioventricular delay. Quantifying the relative contributions of these two mechanisms requires atrioventricular delay to be altered while left bundle branch block is preserved. This occurs when the His bundle is paced at an output below the left bundle branch block correction threshold. Purpose We performed His bundle pacing with preservation of left bundle branch block to measure the relative contributions of atrioventricular delay shortening and ventricular resynchronisation to the overall haemodynamic benefit of biventricular pacing. Methods Patients with left bundle branch block referred for conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy with biventricular pacing were recruited. Using a high precision, beat-by-beat systolic blood pressure assessment protocol, we assessed the haemodynamic effects of biventricular pacing and temporary His bundle pacing with left bundle branch block preservation at a full range of atrioventricular delays. We used non-invasive epicardial mapping (ECGI) to assess left ventricular activation time. Left bundle branch block preservation was defined as &lt;20ms shortening of the interval between intrinsic His potential to QRS offset to the interval from stimulation to QRS offset in His bundle pacing. Results In 19 patients, His bundle pacing with preservation of left bundle branch block produced a peak systolic blood pressure improvement of 5.1mmHg (95% confidence interval: 2.2 to 8.0, p = 0.0013) compared to AAI pacing. In 16 of these patients, biventricular pacing was performed and produced a peak systolic blood pressure improvement of 7.1mmHg (3.8 to 10.4, p &lt; 0.001) compared to AAI pacing. The mean within-patient improvement in systolic blood pressure from His bundle pacing with preservation of left bundle branch block to biventricular pacing was 2.6mmHg (-0.4 to 5.7, p = 0.053, n = 16). The mean improvement in systolic blood pressure with left bundle branch block-preserved His bundle pacing was 63% of the mean improvement with biventricular pacing. Change in left ventricular activation time from intrinsic rhythm to 12-lead-ECG-defined left bundle branch block preservation was 0.1ms (-6.4 to 6.7, n = 19). Conclusion Biventricular pacing in left bundle branch block improves haemodynamic function through ventricular resynchronization and shortening of atrioventricular delay. The majority of benefit appears to be produced by atrioventricular delay shortening. When left bundle branch block is not corrected, His bundle pacing may still produce considerable haemodynamic improvement through this mechanism. Abstract Figure.


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