Stefano Bianchi1, Pietro Rossi2, Patrick Schauerte2, Arif Elvan2, Carina Blomström-Lundqvist2, Lilian Kornet2, Pim Gal2, David Mörtsell2, Griet Wouters2, Christopher Gemein2. 1. From the Department of Cardiology, Az. Ospedale S. Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy (S.B., P.R.); Department of Cardiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (P.S.); Department of Cardiology, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, the Netherlands (A.E., P.G.); Department of Cardiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (C.B.-L., D.M.); Department of Research and Technology, Medtronic, Bakken Research Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands (L.K., G.W.); and Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Giessen & Marburg, Giessen, Germany (C.G.). stefbianchi@gmail.com. 2. From the Department of Cardiology, Az. Ospedale S. Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy (S.B., P.R.); Department of Cardiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (P.S.); Department of Cardiology, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, the Netherlands (A.E., P.G.); Department of Cardiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (C.B.-L., D.M.); Department of Research and Technology, Medtronic, Bakken Research Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands (L.K., G.W.); and Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Giessen & Marburg, Giessen, Germany (C.G.).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with a high ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased risk of receiving inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks. The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of high frequency atrioventricular-nodal stimulation (AVNS) to reduce the ventricular rate during AF to prevent inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with a new atrial lead placement as part of a cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator implant and a history of paroxysmal or persistent AF were eligible. If proper atrial lead position was confirmed, AVNS software was uploaded to the cardiac resynchronization therapy device, tested, and optimized. AVNS was delivered via a right atrial pacing lead positioned in the posterior right atrium. Software allowed initiation of high frequency bursts triggered on rapidly conducted AF. Importantly, the efficacy was evaluated during spontaneous AF episodes between 1 and 6 months after implant. Forty-four patients were enrolled in 4 centers. Successful atrial lead placement occurred in 74%. Median implant time of the AVNS lead was 37 minutes. In 26 (81%) patients, manual AVNS tests increased the ventricular interval by >25%. Between 1 and 6 months, automatic AVNS activations occurred in 4 patients with rapidly conducted AF, and in 3 patients, AVNS slowed the ventricular rate out of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock zone. No adverse events were associated with the AVNS software. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the feasibility of implementation of AVNS in a cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator system. AVNS increased ventricular interval >25% in 81% of patients. AVNS did not influence the safety profile of the cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator system. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT01095952.
BACKGROUND:Patients with a high ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased risk of receiving inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks. The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of high frequency atrioventricular-nodal stimulation (AVNS) to reduce the ventricular rate during AF to prevent inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks. METHODS AND RESULTS:Patients with a new atrial lead placement as part of a cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator implant and a history of paroxysmal or persistent AF were eligible. If proper atrial lead position was confirmed, AVNS software was uploaded to the cardiac resynchronization therapy device, tested, and optimized. AVNS was delivered via a right atrial pacing lead positioned in the posterior right atrium. Software allowed initiation of high frequency bursts triggered on rapidly conducted AF. Importantly, the efficacy was evaluated during spontaneous AF episodes between 1 and 6 months after implant. Forty-four patients were enrolled in 4 centers. Successful atrial lead placement occurred in 74%. Median implant time of the AVNS lead was 37 minutes. In 26 (81%) patients, manual AVNS tests increased the ventricular interval by >25%. Between 1 and 6 months, automatic AVNS activations occurred in 4 patients with rapidly conducted AF, and in 3 patients, AVNS slowed the ventricular rate out of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock zone. No adverse events were associated with the AVNS software. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the feasibility of implementation of AVNS in a cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator system. AVNS increased ventricular interval >25% in 81% of patients. AVNS did not influence the safety profile of the cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator system. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT01095952.
Authors: Zhaolei Jiang; Ye Zhao; Wei-Chung Tsai; Yuan Yuan; Kroekkiat Chinda; Jian Tan; Patrick Onkka; Changyu Shen; Lan S Chen; Michael C Fishbein; Shien-Fong Lin; Peng-Sheng Chen; Thomas H Everett Journal: JACC Clin Electrophysiol Date: 2018-06-27