His bundle has a shorter chronaxie than does the adjacent ventricular myocardium: Implications for pacemaker
Marek Jastrzębski1, Paweł Moskal1, Agnieszka Bednarek1
1First Department of Cardiology, Interventional Electrocardiology and Hypertension, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Insights
Strength-duration curves for His bundle (HB) pacing optimize pacemaker programming. Shorter pulse durations (0.2 ms) enhance selective HB capture and battery life, while longer durations (1.0 ms) ensure right ventricular capture.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
- Medical Device Technology
- Pacemaker Engineering
Background:
- Strength-duration curves are crucial for optimizing permanent His bundle (HB) pacing parameters.
- Understanding these curves aids in programming pacemakers for improved patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the strength-duration curves and chronaxies for His bundle (HB) and right ventricular (RV) pacing.
- To analyze selective HB capture zones and battery current drain at various pulse durations (PDs).
Main Methods:
- Strength-duration curves and chronaxies were assessed in 127 patients with permanent HB pacing.
- Capture thresholds for HB and RV were measured across multiple PDs.
- Battery current drain and selective HB capture were evaluated at PDs of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 ms.
Main Results:
- His bundle (HB) chronaxie was significantly shorter than right ventricular (RV) chronaxie, particularly in selective HB pacing (0.47 ms vs. 0.79 ms).
- HB pacing exhibited a lower rheobase and an earlier steep portion on its strength-duration curve compared to RV.
- Lower battery current drain was observed at shorter PDs (0.1–0.4 ms) compared to 1.0 ms, with chronaxie-adjusted PDs yielding the lowest drain.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first strength-duration curves for permanent selective and nonselective HB pacing.
- Shorter PDs (e.g., 0.2 ms) promote selective HB capture and enhance battery longevity.
- Longer PDs (e.g., 1.0 ms) provide a greater safety margin for RV capture, beneficial when simultaneous RV capture is desired.
Background:
Strength-duration curves for permanent His bundle (HB) pacing are potentially important for pacemaker programming.
Objectives:
We aimed to calculate strength-duration curves and chronaxies of the HB and of the adjacent right ventricular (RV) working myocardium and to analyze zones of selective HB capture and battery current drain when pacing at different pulse durations (PDs).
Methods:
Consecutive patients with permanent HB pacing were studied. The RV and HB capture thresholds were assessed at several PDs. Battery current drain and zones of selective HB capture at PDs of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 ms were determined.
Results:
In the whole group (N = 127), the HB chronaxie was shorter than the RV chronaxie. This difference was driven by patients with selective HB pacing (HB chronaxie 0.47 ms vs RV chronaxie 0.79 ms). The strength-duration curve for the HB had a lower rheobase and its steep portion started at shorter PDs, thus creating wider distance-zone of programmable selective HB pacing-between the HB and RV strength-duration curves at shorter PDs. The battery current drain was lower with pacing at PDs of 0.1-0.4 ms vs 1.0 ms. Chronaxie-adjusted PDs offered the lowest current drain.
Conclusion:
For the first time, the strength-duration curves for permanent selective and nonselective HB pacing were determined. Selective HB capture and battery longevity can be promoted by shorter PDs (0.2 ms). Longer PDs (1.0 ms) offer greater safety margin for RV capture and may be preferable if simultaneous RV capture during HB pacing is desired.
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