Hemodynamic benefits of atrioventricular sequential pacing after cardiac surgery

The hemodynamic effects of atrioventricular (A-V) sequential pacing were assessed and compared with those of ventricular and of atrial pacing in 10 patients with and without heart block after cardiac surgery. Ventricular pacing alone was either hemodynamically detrimental or of no benefit in six of the eight patients who initially had sinus or accelerated junctional rhythms. Atrial pacing alone produced significant improvement in cardiac output in all patients who were not pacemaker-dependent. However, five of the eight patients with intact A-V conduction had further increases in cardiac output through A-V sequential pacing at shorter than intrinsic A-V intervals. Optimal A-V intervals for maximal cardiac output could be identified in all patients and varied widely. Significant changes in cardiac output occurred with relatively small diviations in the A-V interval. In selected patients after cardiac surgery, temporary A-V sequential pacing is a workable and valuable adjunctive form of hemodynamic support and is preferable to ventricular or atrial pacing.