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Published on: February 22, 2018
Potential additional indicators for pacemaker requirement in isolated congenital atrioventricular block
J M P J Breur1, F E A Udink ten Cate, L Kapusta
1Department of Obstetrics, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. hans_breur@hotmail.com
Insights
Standard heart rate measurements before pacemaker implantation do not predict future need in congenital atrioventricular block (CAVB) patients. Further studies using exercise stress tests are required to identify reliable predictors for pacemaker intervention in isolated CAVB.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Congenital atrioventricular block (CAVB) often necessitates pacemaker (PM) implantation due to low heart rate.
- Identifying predictors for future PM need in CAVB patients is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare heart rates between paced (PM) and non-paced (NPM) patients with isolated CAVB before PM implantation.
- To identify additional predictors for future PM need in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 129 CAVB patients.
- Evaluation of atrial and ventricular rates via electrocardiography (ECG).
- Assessment of minimal and maximal heart rates using Holter monitoring, with results adjusted for age and sex.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in average atrial or ventricular heart rates between PM and NPM groups.
- Minimal and maximal heart rates from Holter monitoring also did not significantly differ between groups.
- Initial heart rate recordings did not appear to predict future pacemaker need in CAVB patients.
Conclusions:
- Standard ECG and Holter monitoring heart rate parameters do not reliably predict the need for pacemaker implantation in isolated CAVB.
- Further research, including exercise stress tests, is needed to identify better predictors for PM intervention in CAVB.
Abstract:
Low heart rate is the predominantly used indication for pacemaker intervention in patients with isolated congenital atrioventricular block (CAVB). The aim of this study was to compare the difference in heart rates recorded with ECG and Holter monitoring between paced (PM) and nonpaced (NPM) patients with isolated CAVB before pacemaker implantation to identify additional predictors for future PM need. Retrospective evaluation of atrial and ventricular rates (electrocardiography) and minimal and maximal (Holter) heart rates in 129 CAVB patients prior to PM implantation (n = 93) was performed, and results are expressed in V adjusted for age and sex. The average V score for the atrial rate was 0.51 (n = 50) in the PM group and 0.60 (n = 22) in the NPM group (not-significant). The average z score for the ventricular (average) rate was -0.91 (n = 83) in the PM group and -0.93 (n = 33) in the NPM group (not-significant). Minimal heart rate was -0.94 (n = 61) in the PM group and -0.86 (n = 25) in the NPM group (not significant). Maximal heart rate was -0.96 (n = 61) in the PM group and -0.95 (n = 26) in the NPM group (not significant). Initial recordings of the average heart rate and the minimal and maximal heart rate recorded during Holter monitoring do not seem to predict future pacemaker need in patients with CAVB. Studies with exercise stress tests are needed to confirm these findings.
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