Should His Bundle Pacing Be Preferred over Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Following Atrioventricular Junction Ablation?

Long-term outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node: The experience of a Portuguese tertiary center

INTRODUCTION

In patients with supraventricular arrhythmias and high ventricular rate, unresponsive to rate and rhythm control therapy or catheter ablation, atrioventricular (AV) node ablation may be performed.

OBJECTIVES

To assess long-term outcomes after AV node ablation and to analyze predictors of adverse events.

METHODS

We performed a detailed retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent AV node ablation between February 1997 and February 2019, in a single Portuguese tertiary center.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients, mean age 69±9 years and 52% male, underwent AV node ablation. Most of them presented atrial fibrillation at baseline (65%). During a median follow-up of 8.5 years (interquartile range 3.8-11.8), patients improved heart failure (HF) functional class (NYHA class III-IV 46% versus 13%, p=0.001), and there were reductions in hospitalizations due to HF (0.98±1.3 versus 0.28±0.8, p=0.001) and emergency department (ED) visits (1.1±1 versus 0.17±0.7, p=0.0001). There were no device-related complications. Despite permanent pacemaker stimulation, left ventricular ejection fraction did not worsen (47±13% vs. 47%±12, p=0.63). Twenty-eight patients died (23%). The number of ED visits due to HF before AV node ablation was an independent predictor of the composite adverse outcome (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.24-2.61, p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite pacemaker dependency, the clinical benefit of AV node ablation persisted at long-term follow-up. The number of ED visits due to HF before AV node ablation was an independent predictor of the composite adverse outcome. AV node ablation should probably be considered earlier in the treatment of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias and HF, especially in cases that are unsuitable for selective ablation of the specific arrhythmia.

A case report of simultaneous His pacemaker implantation and atrioventricular junction ablation following unsuccessful treatment of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation can contribute to heart failure. Frequently, rhythm control is unachievable. Atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation and pacemaker implantation remain to be a therapeutic option for rate control in atrial fibrillation. Interventricular asynchrony is a potential downside of right ventricular pacing. However, cardiac resynchronization therapy and His pacing restore physiological activation sequences of the ventricles.

CASE SUMMARY

The reported patient had undergone several interventions to cure atrial fibrillation without sufficient rhythm control and experienced deleterious effects of recurrent arrhythmias. Finally, we decided to ablate the AV junction simultaneously with the implantation of a His bundle pacemaker. Atrioventricular junction ablation had to be repeated following conduction recurrence. A left-sided transaortic approach was required to create a permanent effect and to avoid distal lesions. His pacing was not affected by the AV junction ablation at all. The pre-existing widened QRS was normalized by His pacing, the patient became free of any complaints with full restoration of exertion capability.

DISCUSSION

His pacing has the potential to contribute to a revival of the 'ablate-and-pace' concept for incurable atrial fibrillation by restoring physiological ventricular activation, thereby overcoming the particular drawbacks of continuous ventricular pacing. Atrioventricular junction ablation simultaneously with the pacemaker implantation procedure is safe and feasible. His pacing is at least an alternative for cardiac resynchronization therapy. The implantation procedure is sometimes challenging.