The Zwolle experience with left bundle branch area pacing using stylet-driven active fixation leads

Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a novel physiological pacing modality and is regarded as a viable alternative to His bundle pacing. LBBAP has mostly been performed with the lumen-less permanent pacing lead (SelectSecure™ Model 3830, Medtronic, Inc.) with a fixed helix. The aim of this study was to compare the non-stylet driven lumen-less lead (LLL) (Medtronic 3830) with a standard stylet-driven active fixation lead (SDL) (Tendril™ STS Model 2088TC-38, Abbott Laboratories) in terms of lead parameters, procedural success and complication rates.

Patients receiving a LBBA pacemaker in the Isala Hospital, The Netherlands, were prospectively enrolled. The majority received a standard right ventricular (RV) lead as backup, the implanter chose between LLL and SDL for the LBBAP lead.

The study included 94 patients with a mean follow-up of 30 weeks. 30/31 LLL procedures were successful, compared with 62/63 in the SDL group. Including the participants that lost LBBAP during follow-up resulted in success rates of 90.3% for LLL versus 96.8% for SDL, P = 0.199. Mean number of deployments was significantly lower in the SDL group compared with the LLL group (2 ± 2.3 versus 4 ± 3.4, P = 0.005), implantation and procedural times were comparable. Pacing thresholds were low and remained low in both groups (at last follow-up 0.8 ± 0.30 V for LLL versus 0.6 ± 0.20 V for SDL). Complication rates did not differ significantly between both groups, P = 0.805.

LBBAP using SDL is feasible and has comparable success rates with lower number of deployments of the active fixation screw.