Ventricle pacing and heart failure

Hello all:

I'm going to this issue again of right ventricle pacing potentially causing syptoms of heart failure. Don't want to alarm anyone but I have read some abstracts from some studies that indicate the possibility of this occuring. i have a lead in my right atrium and right ventricle for 2nd degree AV block. My SA node works fine so my atrium is not paced. BUT my ventricle is paced 90% of the time.

The studies seem to indicate that pacing the right ventricle, especially if the lead in embedded in the apex as opposed to the septum of the heart can make it beat out of sync with its neighbor the left ventricle. According to the abstracts, this slight disyncriny in ventricular beats can cause the heart to remodel, leading to leaky valves, enlargement and lower ejection fraction, all symptoms of heart failure.

I DO NOT want to panic anyone. I'm not sure what preconditions the subjects of these studies had. You can see why I am concnered because of my percentage of ventricular pacing. My DR. implanted my ventricular lead in my septum which makes me feel a little better. If this were a major problem, I suppose the only fix in bi-ventriculer pacing to keep them in sync.

Anyone have any new light on this issue

thanks to all

robin

3 Comments

Where did you find studies?

by ElectricFrank - 2008-04-01 01:04:10

robin,
Can you tell me where the studies are located. I would like to read them.
frank

Hi Robin,

by Gellia2 - 2008-04-01 02:04:59

Whereas, I think that HF may happen, pacing all the time in the right ventricle certainly doesn't mean it WILL happen. I've right paced 100% of the time with a lead in the apex for 33 years now. I had a third degree block and first dual pacer implanted in 1982. I still use these same leads. With me, so far, so good (knock on wood). My EF has stayed at 55 the entire time.
Not that it may not happen, but I don't think heart failure is a given for us all with pacemakers.
It certainly isn't a reason to panic, but I think it's something to discuss with your doctors if there is concern.
Very best to you,
Gellia

Ventricle pacing and heart failure

by soprychd - 2016-11-10 17:44:13

I am atrium sensed ventricle paced, have a VDD. Third degree heartblock. Congential. I am 35 yrs old and have an EF of 45-50% depending on who reads it and they believe because of they way I am paced. I just had my generator changed in December 2015 and wish I did the bi ventricular pacing but the drs thought it was too much risk since nothing as changed since 2009. But now I am having PVC and they dont know why :(

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