Acute Hemodynamic Effect of a Novel Dual-Vein, Multisite Biventricular Pacing Configuration

Biventricular pacing (BVP) from multiple left ventricular (LV) sites could enhance the efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by engaging a greater myocardial mass.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the acute hemodynamic effect of various multisite pacing (MSP) configurations against conventional BVP.

Twenty patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block (mean age: 59 ± 14 years; LV ejection fraction: 27% ± 6%; native QRS: 171 ± 16 milliseconds) were investigated during a routine CRT implant procedure. In addition to conventional right atrial and right ventricular leads, 2 quadripolar leads were placed in the distant coronary venous branches. LV hemodynamics was evaluated by using a micromanometer-tipped catheter during atrioventricular BVP with 4 LV lead configurations: single-lead conventional BVP; single-lead multipoint pacing; triventricular pacing from distal dipoles of 2 LV leads; and maximum MSP (MSP-Max) from 4 dipoles of 2 LV leads.

Compared with right atrial pacing, any BVP configuration produced a significant increase in the maximal LV diastolic pressure rise (LVdP/dT_Max) (a median relative increase of 28% [IQR: 8%-45%], 25% [IQR: 18%-46%], 36% [IQR: 18%-54%], and 38% [IQR: 28%-58%], respectively; all, P < 0.001). MSP-Max but no other multisite BVP generated a significant increase of the maximal LVdP/dT_Max than conventional BVP (P = 0.041). Increased LVdP/dT_Max during MSP-Max was associated with greater LV diameter and lower LV ejection fraction, independently of the QRS width.

The study shows the hemodynamic advantage of a novel dual-vein MSP-Max configuration that could be useful for CRT in patients with advanced LV remodeling.