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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
[Effectiveness of simultaneous cardiac resynchronization therapy in surgical valvular patients with severe heart
Tetsuro Uchida1, Masahiro Mizumoto, Cholsu Kim
1Second Department of Surgery, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.
Insights
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) combined with valvular surgery is a feasible option for severe heart failure patients. This approach demonstrated acceptable outcomes, improving patient morbidity and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Heart Failure Management
Context:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for heart failure.
- Significant valvular heart disease has been a contraindication for CRT.
- The effectiveness of combined CRT and valvular surgery is not well-established.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of CRT in heart failure patients undergoing simultaneous valvular surgery.
- To assess the impact of combined CRT and valvular surgery on ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony.
Summary:
- Eight heart failure patients underwent CRT with concomitant valvular surgery.
- Epicardial leads were implanted post-valvular procedure; maze procedure for atrial fibrillation was performed when indicated.
- Echocardiography assessed dyssynchrony pre- and post-CRT; one patient died of ventricular tachycardia, others improved clinically (NYHA class).
Impact:
- Combined CRT and valvular surgery is a feasible procedure for selected severe heart failure patients.
- This approach may improve morbidity and mortality in patients with valvular disease-related heart failure.
- Further research is needed to establish patient selection criteria for concomitant procedures.
Background:
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)has been accepted broadly as an alternative to medical treatment in managing severe heart failure patients. Despite advance in CRT, the presence of a significant valvular heart disease was currently specific exclusion criteria and a response to this therapy remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of CRT in heart failure patients undergoing valvular operation simultaneously.
Patients And Methods:
Between July 2010 and May 2012, 8 heart failure patients who underwent CRT in conjunction with valvular surgery were experienced. Right and left ventricular and atrial epicardial leads were implanted after completion of valvular procedures. In patients with chronic atrial fibrillation(Af),maze procedure was performed in order to eliminate Af. To evaluate the improvement of ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony, the echocardiographic assessment was repeated on admission and 1 month after the CRT implantation.
Results:
There was no operative death. One patient of ischemic cardiomyopathy died of sustained ventricular tachycardia 2 months after the operation. Postoperative course of severe heart failure patients was uneventful and all patients except 1 discharged on foot with improved New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Echocardiographic parameters of dyssynchrony did not reach to statistical significance, but several parameters, left ventricular( LV)-pre-ejectionperiod( PEP) and interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) showing time delay of cardiac contraction, tended to be improve, suggesting contribution to satisfactory postoperative course.
Conclusion:
The acceptable outcome was demonstrated with our concept to recover the intraventricular and atrioventricular synchrony. Although it might be difficult to establish the patient selection criteria for concomitant CRT and valvular surgery, our strategy is considered to be a feasible procedure to improve the morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure due to valvular disease.
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