Klaus-Jürgen Gutleben1,2, Henrik Fox3, Philipp Sommer1, Volker Rudolph4, Georg Nölker1,5. 1. Clinic for Electrophysiology, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. 2. Medizinische Klinik III/Kardiologie, Klinikum Herford, Herford, Germany. 3. Clinic for General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. akleemeyer@hdz-nrw.de. 4. Clinic for General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. 5. Innere Klinik II, Kardiologie, Katharinen-Hospital Unna, Unna, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a highly common comorbidity in heart failure (HF) patients and is known to deteriorate quality of life and prognosis. Effective treatment options are scarce. Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) has been shown to be effective and safe in CSA treatment in HF. However, lead implantation may be difficult or fail due to anatomical or technical challenges. We report novel and innovative approaches applying different interventional techniques to enhance PNS implantation success, allowing otherwise missing CSA treatment. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive HF patients (86% male, mean age: 69 ± 11 years; reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in 16 patients (57%)) were included in this study who were unable to tolerate or had contraindications for mask-based therapy. We evaluated PNS total implantation success, procedural characteristics, and feasibility and success rates of intravascular interventions to facilitate PNS lead implantation in otherwise ineffective procedures. RESULTS: Seven lead implantation attempts (24%) required additional intravascular interventional action to facilitate successful implantation, mainly consisting of balloon angioplasties to allow optimal PNS lead placement. Two procedures remained unsuccessful and two patients underwent a second procedure due to stimulation side effects and lead fracture respectively. All over, no complications resulted from application of interventional techniques to achieve a 93% implantation success rate. CONCLUSION: Transvenous PNS lead placement for CSA treatment can be difficult and challenging. However, interventional intravascular techniques markedly increase implantation success and thereby allow application of this therapy for effective CSA treatment in most patients without additional complications.
PURPOSE:Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a highly common comorbidity in heart failure (HF) patients and is known to deteriorate quality of life and prognosis. Effective treatment options are scarce. Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) has been shown to be effective and safe in CSA treatment in HF. However, lead implantation may be difficult or fail due to anatomical or technical challenges. We report novel and innovative approaches applying different interventional techniques to enhance PNS implantation success, allowing otherwise missing CSA treatment. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive HF patients (86% male, mean age: 69 ± 11 years; reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in 16 patients (57%)) were included in this study who were unable to tolerate or had contraindications for mask-based therapy. We evaluated PNS total implantation success, procedural characteristics, and feasibility and success rates of intravascular interventions to facilitate PNS lead implantation in otherwise ineffective procedures. RESULTS: Seven lead implantation attempts (24%) required additional intravascular interventional action to facilitate successful implantation, mainly consisting of balloon angioplasties to allow optimal PNS lead placement. Two procedures remained unsuccessful and two patients underwent a second procedure due to stimulation side effects and lead fracture respectively. All over, no complications resulted from application of interventional techniques to achieve a 93% implantation success rate. CONCLUSION: Transvenous PNS lead placement for CSA treatment can be difficult and challenging. However, interventional intravascular techniques markedly increase implantation success and thereby allow application of this therapy for effective CSA treatment in most patients without additional complications.
Authors: Olaf Oldenburg; Maria Rosa Costanzo; Robin Germany; Scott McKane; Timothy E Meyer; Henrik Fox Journal: J Cardiovasc Transl Res Date: 2020-08-12 Impact factor: 4.132