History of His bundle pacing

The electrocardiogram characteristics and pacing parameters of permanent left bundle branch pacing: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Recent advances in conduction system pacing have led to the use of left bundle branch pacing (LBBP), which has potential advantages over His bundle pacing (HBP). For example, LBBP engages the electrical activation through the left bundle branch, produces ventricular electrical synchrony, and avoids the weakness of HBP such as lead instability, higher threshold, and early battery depletion. This pacing modality has been considered an attractive mode to achieve normal physiological pacing. However, as a new technology, LBBP is still in the stage of clinical exploration and lacks adequate evaluation. This study aims to investigate the electrocardiogram characteristics, pacing parameters, the safety, and the effectiveness of LBBP.

METHODS

A computerized search of PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library for the effects of LBBP was done. The baseline characteristics of patients, successful rate of implantation, capture threshold, R-wave amplitude, pacing impedance, QRS duration, and follow-up date were extracted and summarized.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies including 712 patients were included in this analysis. The overall successful rate for implantation was 92.9%. The main indications for LBBP were atrioventricular block (AVB), sinus node dysfunction (SND), atrial fibrillation (AF) with slow ventricular rate, and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) candidates. For patients with QRS duration>120 ms, permanent LBBP resulted in narrower QRS duration compared to that before implantation (P = 0.05). QRS duration and capture threshold of LBBP remained stable during follow-up. Moreover, there was higher R-wave amplitude and lower pacing impedance at follow-up compared to those at implantation (P = 0.01 and P < 0.00001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Permanent LBBP has shown promising results for pacemaker-indicated patients in small observational studies. Good electrical synchronization, high success rates, and stable pacemaker lead parameters suggested significant advantages of LBBP in physiological pacing. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy of LBBP in patients.

Emerging Technologies in Cardiac Pacing From Leadless Pacers to Stem Cells

Modern pacemakers can sense and pace multiple chambers of the heart. These pacemakers have different modes and features to optimize atrioventricular synchrony and promote intrinsic conduction. Despite recent advancements, current pacemakers have several drawbacks that limit their feasibility. In this review article, we discuss several of these limitations and detail several emerging technologies in cardiac pacing aimed to solve some of these limitations. We present several technological advancements in cardiac pacing, including the use of leadless pacemakers, physiologic pacing, battery improvements, and bioartificial pacemakers. More research still needs to be done in testing the safety and efficacy of these new developments.

His-Purkinje Conduction System Pacing: State of the Art in 2020

Conduction system pacing involves directly stimulating the specialised His-Purkinje cardiac conduction system with the aim of activating the ventricles physiologically, in contrast to the dyssynchronous activation produced by conventional myocardial pacing. Since the first report of permanent His bundle pacing (HBP) in 2000, the stylet-driven technique of its earliest incarnation has been superseded by a more successful stylet-less approach. Widespread uptake has led to a much greater evidence base. Single-centre observational studies have now been supported by large multicentre, international registries, mechanistic studies and the first randomised controlled trials. New evidence has elucidated mechanisms of HBP and illustrated the nature and magnitude of its potential benefits for preventing pacing-induced cardiomyopathy and correcting bundle branch block. Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a newer technique in which the lead is fixed deep into the left side of the intraventricular septum to allow capture of the left bundle, distal to the His bundle. LBBP holds promise as a method for physiological pacing that overcomes some of the fixation, threshold and sensing challenges of HBP. In this state-of-the-art review of His-Purkinje conduction system pacing, the authors assess recent evidence and current practice and explore emerging and future directions in this rapidly evolving field.

Novel electroanatomical map for permanent his bundle pacing: the Mont Blanc approach - influence of the learning curve and procedural outcome

AIMS

Pacing the specific conduction system like the Bundle of His (HB) can lead to more physiologic activation patterns compared to traditional right ventricular apical pacing. The aim of this study was to estimate the feasibility and value of electroanatomical mapping (EAM) for HB pacing during the learning curve and its impact on procedural outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fifteen consecutive patients were treated using EAM of the His bundle region before implantation. Voltage and activation maps of HB potentials were performed. The activation time from His potential to R wave (ECG-reference) was measured and correlated to the HV interval. The atrial and ventricular potentials were blended so the active window could only see the His potential. After completing the activation map, it was transformed into a peak-to-peak voltage map of the HB. With reversed black and white colour scale, the exact point of the maximal His signal amplitude was visualized. Procedural data for the implantation were analysed using this innovative approach. The average total procedural time and fluoroscopy time was 88.2 ± 19.1 min and 10.9 ± 4.5 min, respectively. The 3D mapping time was 18.4 ± 5.1 min. The 13.9 ± 5.1 His potential points were needed in average to complete the map. No periprocedural complications were seen in this cohort. In 86.7% of cases, His bundle pacing was successful. The average threshold for the His bundle stimulation and the R-wave amplitude was 1.62 ± 1 V (@1.0 ms) and 4.8 ± 3.2 mV, respectively. The pacing impedance was 513.5 ± 102.8 Ω. Average paced QRS complex width was 116.9 ± 20.3ms. On average 2.6 ± 1.6 lead positions were targeted to find the optimal pacing site.

CONCLUSION

Electroanatomical mapping-guided implantation of His-bundle leads can facilitate the identification of optimal pacing sites and allow to minimize procedure and fluoroscopy times even during the phase of the learning curve.

Pacing Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Heart Failure: His Bundle Pacing Combined with Atrioventricular Node Ablation

As an alternative to antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) for rate and rhythm control, pacing combined with atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation is suitable for many AF patients with heart failure (HF) who suffer from symptoms despite optimal medical therapy or have failed AF ablation. Studies have demonstrated His bundle pacing in conjunction with AVN ablation to treat refractory AF patients with HF provide long-term clinical benefits. Here we introduce the clinical application and procedures of His bundle pacing and AVN ablation.

His Bundle Pacing: State of the Art

Traditional right ventricular pacing can be associated with adverse remodeling, leading to left ventricular dysfunction, functional mitral regurgitation, left atrial dilatation, as well as atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. His bundle pacing (HBP) has emerged as a viable and reliable alternative to right ventricular pacing. HBP has been around since the 1970s, but remained dormant even after the index clinical study in humans in 2000. However, with recently rejuvenated interest, it appears to be a promising strategy for achieving synchronous ventricular pacing. Multiple studies have now shown that HBP is feasible, safe, and offers better outcomes when compared with right ventricular pacing. It has also emerged as an alternative to biventricular pacing for the provision of cardiac resynchronization therapy. This review gives a systematic appraisal of the history, feasibility, safety, techniques, efficacy, benefits, complications, and challenges, and offers a future perspective, of HBP.

Integrative and quantitive evaluation of the efficacy of his bundle related pacing in comparison with conventional right ventricular pacing: a meta-analysis

Background

Long-term RVP could bring adverse problems to cardiac electro-mechanics and result in inter- and intra-ventricular asynchrony, impaired labor force, and aggravation of cardiac function. HBRP including direct His bundle pacing and para-His bundle pacing was regarded as a novel physiological pacing pattern to avoid devastating cardiac function. This synthetic study was conducted to integratively and quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of His bundle related pacing (HBRP) in comparison with conventional right ventricular pacing (RVP).

Methods

Published studies on comparison of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, inter-ventricular asynchrony, and QRS duration, etc. between HBRP and RVP were collected and for meta-analysis.

Results

HBRP showed higher LVEF (WMD = 3.9%, 95% CI: 1.6% – 6.1%), lower NYHA class (WMD = −0.5, 95% CI: -0.7 – -0.3), WMD of LVESV = −0.1 ml, 95% CI: -3.0 – 2.8 ml), less inter-ventricular asynchrony (WMD = −13.2 ms, 95% CI: -16.4 – -10.0 ms), and shorter QRS duration for long-term (WMD = −36.9 ms, 95% CI: -40.0 – -33.8 ms), however, no significant difference of ventricular volume (WMDLVEDV = −2.4 ml, 95% CI: -5.0 – 0.2 ml; WMDLVESV = −0.1 ml, 95% CI: -3.0 – 2.8 ml) compared to RVP.

Conclusions

The efficacy of HBRP was firstly verified by meta-analysis to date. Compared with RVP, HBRP markedly preserve LVEF, NYHA class, and QRS duration. However, it seemed to have less effect on ventricular volume.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12872-017-0649-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.