In vitro assessment of pacing as therapy for aortic regurgitation

Clinical evaluation of pacing therapy in mitigating the aortic insufficiency after transchateter aortic valve implantation often gives contradictory outcomes. This study presents an in vitro investigation aimed at clarifying the effect of pacing on paravalvular leakage.

A series of in vitro tests reproducing the heart operating changes clinically obtained by pacing was carried out in a 26 mm Edwards Sapien XT prosthesis with mild paravalvular leakage. The effect of pacing on the regurgitant volumes per cycle and per minute was quantified, and the energy and power consumed by the left ventricle were calculated.

Results indicate that though pacing results in some reduction in the total regurgitation per cycle, the volume of fluid regurgitating per minute increases substantially, causing overload of left ventricle.

Our tests indicate no effective haemodynamic benefit from pacing, suggesting a prudential clinical use of this therapy for the treatment of postoperative aortic regurgitation.