DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Cardiac pacing is the best optional treatment for cardiac rhythm disturbances such as cardiac arrhythmias, high grade atrioventricular (AV) block and heart failure (HF). Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing in patients with normal left ventricular heart, may stimulate HF and cardiomyopathy. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of new-onset heart failure after right ventricular apical pacing in patients having normal left ventricular (LV) function.
Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted from March 2017 to January 2019 in Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (CPE) Institute of Cardiology, Multan Pakistan. Adult patients (n=50) who fulfilled the American College of Cardiology (ACC) guidelines for permanent pacemaker (PPM) insertion and with normal LV function were included in this study. Pacemaker was implanted in all patients under local anesthesia. All patients were followed up for six months to determine the occurrence of heart failure. 2-D echocardiography was done to determine heart failure at follow up in pacemaker clinic.
Results: Mean age of the study participants was 50.53 ± 6.75 years with male predominance. Mean pre-implantation ejection fraction (EF%) was 55.4 ± 4.2%. Main reason of PPM insertion was third degree AV block followed by right bundle branch block (RBBB). Incidence of HF was 4% at 06 months’ follow-up. Mortality occurred only in 1 (2%) patient.
Conclusions: Right ventricular pacing is associated with risk of new onset heart failure in long term follow-up. In the present study, HF developed in 4% patients in a follow-up period of six months