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Right Ventricular Versus Biventricular Pacing for Heart Failure and Atrioventricular Block

  • Prevention of Heart Failure (MSJ Sutton, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The use of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is well accepted as an important option for the treatment of patients with systolic heart failure and prolonged QRS duration. CRT for patients with narrow QRS complexes is reserved for patients who are undergoing implantation of new or replacement pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators with an anticipated significant requirement for ventricular pacing. The Biventricular versus Right Ventricular Pacing in Heart Failure Patients with Atrioventricular Block (BLOCK HF) Trial examined the role of CRT in heart failure patients with atrioventricular block and demonstrated significantly better outcomes with CRT compared to right ventricular pacing. On the other hand, conflicting preliminary data were reported by the Biventricular Pacing for Atrioventricular Block to Prevent Cardiac Desynchronization (BioPace) Trial investigators. In this review, we will discuss the adverse consequences of chronic right ventricular pacing, the options of alternate pacing sites in the right ventricle versus biventricular pacing, and the findings from the BLOCK HF Trial as well as the preliminary data from the BioPace Trial. Our goal is to explore the role of biventricular pacing in patients with atrioventricular block.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, University at Buffalo, 875 Ellicott Street, Suite 7030, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA

    Hiroko Beck

  2. Department of Medicine, Buffalo General Medical Center, University at Buffalo, D2-76, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA

    Anne B. Curtis

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  1. Hiroko Beck
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Correspondence to Hiroko Beck.

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Conflict of Interest

Hiroko Beck has received personal fees from Medtronic, Inc. outside of the submitted work.

Anne B Curtis has received personal fees from Medtronic, Inc., and St. Jude Medical outside of the submitted work.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Prevention of Heart Failure

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Beck, H., Curtis, A.B. Right Ventricular Versus Biventricular Pacing for Heart Failure and Atrioventricular Block. Curr Heart Fail Rep 13, 230–236 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-016-0299-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-016-0299-3

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