His-bundle pacing: A novel treatment for left bundle branch block-mediated cardiomyopathy

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2020 Oct;31(10):2730-2736. doi: 10.1111/jce.14692. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Abstract

Background: Chronic left bundle branch block (LBBB) can lead to LBBB-mediated cardiomyopathy from left ventricular dysynchrony. His-bundle pacing (HBP) results in direct electrical synchrony using the native His-Purkinje system, providing a novel treatment for this cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of HBP for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in LBBB-mediated cardiomyopathy patients.

Methods: Retrospective database review was conducted on patients who underwent CRT by the HBP capable provider at Indiana University Health and Eskenazi Hospital from August 2015 to August 2017. A subset of patients who met the predefined syndrome criteria of LBBB-mediated cardiomyopathy who underwent HBP were identified. Clinical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic variables were extracted at baseline and follow-up.

Results: Nine patients had cardiomyopathy and LBBB. Among those two were lost to follow-up. Seven patients were included in the analysis. The average time from device implantation to the last follow-up was 14.5 months. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved on average from 25% to 50% (p = .0001). The left ventricular end-systolic dimension decreased from 47 to 37 mm (p = .003) and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension decreased from 55 to 48 mm (p = .03). QRS duration with HBP-CRT decreased from 152 to 115 ms. New York Heart Association classification improved from an average of 2.7-2.

Conclusion: HBP is a viable technique for pursuing CRT in patients with LBBB-mediated cardiomyopathy.

Keywords: HBP-CRT; His-bundle pacing; LBBB-mediated cardiomyopathy; nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

MeSH terms

  • Bundle of His / diagnostic imaging
  • Bundle-Branch Block / diagnosis
  • Bundle-Branch Block / therapy
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy*
  • Cardiomyopathies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathies* / therapy
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Failure* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Indiana
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stroke Volume
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function, Left