Right ventricular and tricuspid valve function in patients chronically implanted with leadless pacemakers

Europace. 2018 May 1;20(5):823-828. doi: 10.1093/europace/eux101.

Abstract

Aims: Leadless cardiac pacing has recently been proposed as alternative to conventional right ventricular (RV) pacing. With this approach, devices are directly screwed or fixed with tines in the RV wall, but the possible consequences on RV and tricuspid valve (TV) structure and function remain unknown. We thus conducted a study to evaluate this potential impact in chronically implanted patients.

Methods and results: Repeated echocardiographic studies were performed prior to implantation, at discharge, and 2 months thereafter on all consecutive patients implanted with a leadless pacemaker at our centre between October 2014 and end-December 2015. Whenever possible, patients were evaluated in non-paced rhythm. Anatomical and functional parameters of RV, TV, and left cardiac structures were assessed. Overall, 23 patients (12 females, aged 85.2 ± 6.3 years) were included, with 14 implanted using Nanostim™ (Saint Jude Medical) and 9 with Micra™ (Medtronic). Indications for pacing were paroxysmal atrio-ventricular block in 12 patients, intermittent sinus bradycardia in 5, unexplained syncope in 3, and atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular rate in the remaining 3. The pacing percentage was 34 ± 42% at the last visit. Most devices were implanted in the septo-apical or mid-septal region. There were no significant changes in echocardiographic parameters observed. One patient developed significantly increased TV regurgitation, without abnormal leaflet motion or TV annulus size changes, suggesting it to be due to RV pressure changes.

Conclusion: In patients chronically implanted with leadless pacemakers, there were no significant changes in heart structure and function observed, especially concerning the RV and TV.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / adverse effects*
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • France
  • Heart Ventricles* / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prosthesis Implantation* / adverse effects
  • Prosthesis Implantation* / instrumentation
  • Prosthesis Implantation* / methods
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency* / diagnosis
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency* / etiology
  • Tricuspid Valve* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tricuspid Valve* / physiopathology