Hemodynamic effects of atrial septal pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy patients.

Introduction: Spontaneous or pacing-induced interatrial conduction delay may affect the outcome of heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the atrial pacing site (right atrial appendage, RAA; and low interatrial septum, LIS) during biventricular (BV) pacing on the left ventricular (LV) systolic function in candidates for CRT.

Methods And Results: Fifteen heart failure patients with left bundle branch block and LV ejection fraction < or =35% were enrolled.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization by finger plethysmography.

Objectives: We tested a simple noninvasive method for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) optimization using standard finger photoplethysmography (FPPG).

Background: CRT can increase left ventricular cardiac output in patients with heart failure and ventricular conduction delay. Optimal therapy delivery depends on an appropriate AV delay.