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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Long-term effects of upgrading from right ventricular pacing to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with
Paul W X Foley1, Sahrkaur A Muhyaldeen, Shajil Chalil
1Department of Cardiology, University of Birmingham, Good Hope Hospital, Rectory Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, West Midlands B75 7RR, UK.
Insights
Upgrading right ventricular (RV) pacing to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure patients yields outcomes comparable to de novo CRT. Both approaches show similar mortality, morbidity, and symptomatic improvements.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Heart Failure Management
Background:
- Right ventricular (RV) pacing is a common treatment for bradycardia but can lead to dyssynchrony and heart failure.
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) aims to improve cardiac function by resynchronizing ventricular contraction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of upgrading from RV pacing to CRT compared to de novo CRT in heart failure patients.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving patients with heart failure undergoing either de novo CRT or upgrading from RV pacing to CRT.
- Clinical endpoints including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and heart failure hospitalizations were assessed over a maximum follow-up of 7.7 years.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in clinical endpoints between the de novo CRT and upgrade-to-CRT groups.
- Both groups demonstrated comparable improvements in NYHA class, 6-minute walking distance, quality of life, and left ventricular remodeling (LVEF and end-systolic volume).
Conclusions:
- Upgrading RV pacing to CRT in heart failure patients offers similar long-term mortality and morbidity risks as de novo CRT.
- Symptomatic benefits and reverse remodeling are comparable between the two strategies, suggesting upgrading is a viable option.
Aims:
To determine the effects of upgrading from right ventricular (RV) pacing to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure.
Methods And Results:
Patients with heart failure [age 67.3 +/- 9.6 years (mean +/- SD), NYHA class III or IV, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
Conclusion:
In patients with heart failure who are RV-paced, upgrading to CRT is associated with a similar long-term risk of mortality and morbidity to patients undergoing de novo CRT. Symptomatic improvements and degree of reverse remodelling are also comparable.
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