Feasibility, safety and outcomes of left bundle branch pacing in octogenarians.

OBJECTIVES

Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) provides physiological pacing at low and stable threshold. The safety and efficacy of LBBP in elderly population is unknown. Our study was designed to assess the safety, efficacy and electrophysiological parameters of LBBP in octogenarian (≥80 years) population.

RESULTS

LBBP was successful in 10 out of 11 patients. Mean age 82.1 ± 2.5 yrs. Follow up duration 7.7 months(range4-10). Indication for pacing included atrioventricular (AV) block 5 patients, Left bundle branch block (LBBB) with low ejection fraction (EF) 4 patients, sinus node dysfunction in 1. QRS duration reduced from 145.9 ± 27.7ms to 107.1 ± 9.5ms (p value0.00001) LV ejection fraction increased from 47.6% to 58.4% after LBBP (p value0.017). Pacing threshold was 0.58 ± 0.22 V and sensed R wave 17.35 ± 6.5 mV and it remained stable during follow up. LBBB with low EF patients also showed similar reduction in QRS duration along with improvement in LVEF.

CONCLUSION

LBBP is a safe and effective strategy (91% acute success) of physiological pacing in elderly patients. LBBP also provided effective resynchronization therapy in our small group of elderly patients. The pacing parameters remained stable over a period of 10 months follow up.