Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):411-413
Echocardiographic assessment of changes in AV delay in patients with biventricular pacing
- Klinika kardiologie, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha, Česká republika
Group of patients and methods:
The study was performed in a group of 25 patients (22 men and 3 women), with a mean age of 60.4 ± 11.3 years. All patients had significant dysfunction of a dilated left ventricle (mean EF of 22.5 ± 3.2% at an end-diastolic dimension of 75.5 ± 9.2 mm). The underlying cause of left ventricular dysfunction was coronary heart disease in 12 patients, dilated cardiomyopathy in 11 patients while 2 patients had left ventricular dysfunction following aortic valve replacement. At the time of examination, the patients were clinically stable, and all met Class III criteria of the functional classification. The study was undertaken using a simplified protocol of overall left ventricular performance at different AV intervals.
Results:
Using VTI (velocity time integral) determination, the study demonstrated that, among the different AV intervals of atrium-triggered biventricular pacing (with the tested intervals being 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 ms), the most appropriate AV interval in all patients was that of 120 ms, as it was associated with the highest VTI (an equivalent of stroke volume): 19.46 ± 5.13 cm. The VTI at the AV interval of 120 ms also differed significantly from those at other AV intervals in the study group (p < 0,001).
Conclusion:
The study shows the procedure for follow-up of patients with biventricular pacing is appropriate.
Keywords: Echocardiography; Biventricular pacing; Cardiac insufficiency
Published: October 1, 2002 Show citation