Pacemaker and CHD

Hello everyone:

This is my first time posting a message. I was implanted March 20, 2006 for 2nd degree AV block. There appears to be no underlying coronary artery disease, so I have no idea what caused it. I'm 50. My questions is: Recently i have read that ventricular pacing can lead to HF due to the dysinchrony of right ventricle beat relative to the left ventricle beat. My ventricle lead is placed in my septum, which, i believe helps prevent this issue as opposed to an apical lead placement. Does anyone have any further information about right ventricle pacing causing HF, lower ejection fraction, mitral valve leakage or remodeling of the.

Thanks so much

1 Comments

Same here

by ElectricFrank - 2008-02-26 01:02:50

I've got a pacer for the same reason other than mine is3rd degree AV block. I'm glad to hear you referring to it as AV block. So many of the cardiologists like to call it "heart block" which is a marketing term that sounds a lot more ominous. As for the cause I suspect it is the result of an infection which could have occurred sometime in the past. I am 77 and have had the pacer for over 3yrs now. It has essentially put me back to where I was when the block occurred. I walk 3 miles/day, made a Jeep trip in Colorado to over 13,000', etc and do great.
One suggestion. If you have only AV block be sure that rate response is turned off in the pacer. Also, the upper and lower HR limits should be set wide enough not to interfere with your activity. I had a bit of a battle in the beginning with this as the cardiologist thought I must have severe CHD due to my cholesterol. He had me set to 70-120. I finally told him I wanted it set to 55-150 with rate response off, and threatened to find someone else if he refused. He reluctantly OK'ed the changes and I have felt great since.
As for the congestive heart failure study, as I remember it the actual increase in risk was very small and possibly due to pre-existing problems. I also wonder about the settings I mentioned above. They create some very unfavorable rhythms which can't be good for the heart.

frank

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It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.