Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing With or Without Conduction System Capture in Heart Failure Models.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing includes left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) and left ventricular septal pacing (LVSP), which is effective in patients with dyssynchronous heart failure (DHF). However, the basic mechanisms are unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare LBBP with LVSP and explore potential mechanisms underlying the better clinical outcomes of LBBP.

Comorbid Hypertension Reduces the Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Chronic Heart Failure Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators.

Aims: Low blood pressure (BP) has been shown to be associated with increased mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. This study was designed to evaluate the relationships between diagnosed hypertension and the risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and all-cause death in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), including those with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) and indication for ICD secondary prevention. We hypothesized that a stable hypertension status, along with an increasing BP level, is associated with a reduction in the risk of VA in this population, thereby limiting ICD efficacy.

A Comparison of the Electrophysiological and Anatomic Characteristics of Pacing Different Branches of the Left Bundle Conduction System.

Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a rapidly growing conduction system pacing technique. However, little is known regarding the electrophysiological characteristics of different types of LBBP. We aimed to evaluate the electrophysiological characteristics and anatomic lead location with pacing different branches of the left bundle branch.

Nomogram predicting death and heart transplantation before appropriate ICD shock in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: This study aimed to develop and validate a competing risk nomogram for predicting all-cause mortality and heart transplantation (HT) before first appropriate shock in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD).

Methods And Results: A total of 218 consecutive DCM patients implanted with ICD between 2010 and 2019 at our institution were retrospectively enrolled. Cox proportional hazards model was primarily built to identify variables associated with death and HT.

Conduction System Pacing for Post Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Patients: Comparison With Right Ventricular Pacing.

For patients who develop atrioventricular block (AVB) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), right ventricular pacing (RVP) may be associated with adverse outcomes. We assessed the feasibility of conduction system pacing (CSP) in patients who developed AVB following TAVR and compared the procedural and clinical outcomes with RVP. Consecutive patients who developed AVB following TAVR were prospectively enrolled, and were implanted with RVP or CSP.

Contrast-enhanced image-guided lead deployment for left bundle branch pacing.

Background: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel conduction system pacing modality, but pacing lead deployment remains challenging.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of visualization-enhanced lead deployment for LBBP implantation and to assess LBBP characteristics on the basis of lead tip location.

Methods: Successful LBBP with a well-defined lead tip location by visualization of the tricuspid value annulus in 20 patients was retrospectively analyzed to develop an image-guided technique to identify the LBBP target site.

Left ventricular involvement assessed by LGE-CMR in predicting the risk of adverse outcomes of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy with ICDs.

Background: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by a high incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sudden death. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation is the cornerstone of management.

Objective: This study aims to reveal the prognostic value of the contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) amount in predicting varying lethal outcomes among ACM patients with ICDs.

Global and regional cardiac dysfunction quantified by F-FDG PET scans can predict ventricular arrhythmia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Background: A low appropriate therapy rate indicates that a minority of patients will benefit from their implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Quantitative measurements from F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET) may predict ventricular arrhythmia (VA) occurrence after ICD placement.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study and recruited patients who required ICD placement.

Comparison of electrical characteristics and pacing parameters of pacing different parts of the His-Purkinje system in bradycardia patients.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the electrical characteristics and pacing parameters at different locations of His-Purkinje system pacing.

Methods: Patients who successfully underwent His-Purkinje system pacing with bradycardia indications from April 2018 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed according to the lead location confirmed by visualization of the tricuspid value annulus, postoperative echocardiography, and pacing electrocardiogram. The electrical characteristics and pacing parameters were compared among these patients.

Prognostic effects of longitudinal changes in left ventricular ejection fraction with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is considered an indicator of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Longitudinal studies on the predictive value of LVEF are scarce. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the prognostic role of LVEF in the outcomes of Chinese patients with CRT.

Prognostic Value of Quantitative Flow Ratio Based Functional SYNTAX Score in Patients With Left Main or Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The potential impact of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) based functional Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (FSS) on prognostication and revascularization strategy choice has not been fully investigated, and the discriminant ability of FSS needs further validation.

Methods: QFR was retrospectively analyzed in left main or patients with multivessel coronary artery disease from the PANDA III trial. A total of 607 patients with analyzable QFR in all vessels were included.

Permanent His Bundle Pacing Implantation Facilitated by Visualization of the Tricuspid Valve Annulus.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) is the most physiological pacing modality. However, HBP has longer procedure times with frequent high capture thresholds, which likely contributes to the low adoption of this approach. The aim of this study is to compare HBP implantation with a novel imaging technique versus the standard implantation technique.

A prognostic nomogram for event-free survival in patients with atrial fibrillation before cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common comorbidities of heart failure (HF), is associated with worse long-term prognosis in HF patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, there is still no convenient tool to identify CRT candidates with AF who are at high risk of mortality and hospitalization due to HF.

Methods: We included 152 consecutive patients with AF for CRT in our hospital from January 2009 to July 2019.

Comparison between His-bundle pacing guided by Ensite NavX system and conventional fluoroscopy.

Background: Conventional fluoroscopy guidance, permanent His-bundle pacing (HBP) usually involves high fluoroscopy exposure. This study aims to explore the feasibility of Ensite NavX system and compare its pacing parameters and fluoroscopy doses (FD) with that of conventional fluoroscopy guiding HBP.

Methods And Results: A total of 30 patients receiving HBP from June to January 2019 were prospectively enrolled into this study (15 patients guided by conventional fluoroscopy and 15 patients by NavX system).

Visualization of tricuspid valve annulus for implantation of His bundle pacing in patients with symptomatic bradycardia.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) is a physiological pacing modality, but HBP implantation remains a challenge.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility of using visualization of the tricuspid valve annulus (TVA) to locate the site for HBP.

Methods: During the lead placement in eight patients with symptomatic bradycardia, the TVA and tricuspid septal leaflet was revealed by contrast injection in the right ventricle under the fluoroscopic right anterior oblique view, and the target site for HBP was identified near the intersection of the tricuspid septal leaflet and the interventricular septum.