Objective
Permanent biventricular pacing benefits patients with heart failure and interventricular conduction delay, but the importance of pacing with and without optimization in patients at risk of low cardiac output after heart surgery is unknown. We hypothesized that pacing parameters independently affect cardiac output. Accordingly, we analyzed aortic flow measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter in patients at risk of low cardiac output, during an ongoing randomized clinical trial of biventricular pacing (n=11) vs. standard of care (n=9).
Methods
A sub-study was conducted in all 20 patients, in both groups, with stable pacing after coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve surgery. Ejection fraction averaged 33±15%, QRS duration 116±19 msec. Effects were measured within one hour of the conclusion of cardiopulmonary bypass. Atrioventricular delay (7 settings) and interventricular delay (9 settings) were optimized in random sequence.
Results
Optimization of atrioventricular delay (171±8 msec), at an interventricular delay of 0 msec, increased flow 14% vs. the worst setting (111±11 msec, p < 0.001) and 7% vs. nominal atrioventricular delay (120 msec, p < 0.001). Interventricular delay optimization increased flow 10% vs. the worst setting (p < 0.001) and 5% vs. nominal interventricular delay (0 msec, p < 0.001). Optimized pacing increased cardiac output 13% vs. atrial pacing at matched heart rate (5.5±0.5 vs. 4.9±0.6 L/min; p = 0.003) and 10% vs. sinus rhythm (5.0±0.6 L/min; p = 0.019).
Conclusions
Temporary biventricular pacing increases intraoperative cardiac output in patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing cardiac surgery. Atrioventricular and interventricular delay optimization maximizes this benefit.
BiVP and RVP restore intraventricular LV synchrony and increase regional function versus LVP during RVPO. RV pre-excitation unloads the RV and reduces the duration of AS contraction, facilitating synchrony of all LV segments and increasing free wall LV contraction.
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