Bradyarrhythmia and Pacing
Bradyarrhythmia and Pacing
Bradyarrhythmia and Pacing
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Outline
Approach to syncope
Bradyarrhythmias
Pacemakers
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Syncope
transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) attributable to
global cerebral hypoperfusion
rapid onset, short duration and spontaneous recovery
Prognosis is generally favorable: benign for vasovagal to
poor for VAs
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Epidemiology
Common problem
affects all age groups
men=women
lifetime incidence: 40%;
increases with age
bimodal with peaks at
20 and 80 years
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Etiologies of TLOC
Unknown: 50%
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Reflex or Neurally Mediated Syncope
Settings: Premonitory Signs:
nausea, blurred vision
young patients, no SHD
warmth, diaphoresis
Frightening/stressful pallor, yawning
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Increased sympathetic tone … vigorous contraction of
LV …mechanoreceptors in LV trigger increased vagal
tone (hyperactive Bezold- jarisch reflex)….. Decrease
HR (Cardioinhibitory) and/or BP(Vasodepressor)
Cough, deglutition, defecation, micturition … increase
vagal tone and thus can be precipitants
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Orthostatic hypotension
insufficient peripheral vasoconstriction in response to
orthostatic stress
may also trigger reflex mediated syncope
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Cardiac syncope
Arrhythmia (15%): • Mechanical (5%)
Sudden, lack warning • Endocardial: AS, MS, PS,
Brady-arrhythmia prosthetic valve thrombosis,
myxoma
Tachyarrhythmia:
may trigger vasovagal
• Myocardial: MI ,HCMP(usually
syncope VT)
• Percardial: tamponade
• Vascular:
• PE, PHT, Aortic dissection,
ruptured AAA, subclavian
steal syndrome
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Prognosis and recurrence
Prognosis :
underlying etiology
presence and severity of cardiac disease
reflex mediated: favorable prognosis
Recurrence:20%
Cardiac syncope: highest risk
vasovagal syncope: risk predicted by the frequency of
events
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Initial assessment
History, physical examination including orthostatic BP,
ECG
An account by a witness: HELPFUL
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Key historical features
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Diagnostic Methods & Yield
Test/Procedure Yield
based on mean time to diagnosis of 5.1
months7
History and Physical (including carotid sinus 49-85% 1, 2
massage)
ECG 2-11% 2
Electrophysiology Study without SHD* 11% 3
Electrophysiology Study with SHD 49% 3
Tilt Table Test (without SHD) 11-87% 4, 5
Ambulatory ECG Monitors:
- Holter(worn for 1-3 days) 2% 7
- External Loop Recorder (2-3 weeks duration) 20% 7
-Insertable Loop Recorder (up to 18 months 65-88% 6, 7
duration)
Neurological † (Head CT Scan, Carotid Doppler) 0-4% 4,5,8,9,10
1
Kapoor, et al N Eng J Med, 1983. 6
Krahn, Circulation, 1995
2
Kapoor, Am J Med, 1991. 7
Krahn, Cardiology Clinics, 1997.
3
Linzer, et al. Ann Int. Med, 1997. 8
Eagle K,, et al. The Yale J Biol and Medicine. 1983; 56: 1-8. * Structural Heart Disease
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Kapoor, Medicine, 1990. 9
Day S, et al. Am J Med. 1982; 73: 15-23. †
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Kapoor, JAMA, 1992 10 Stetson P, et al. PACE. 1999; 22 (part II): 782.
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CHESS BRACES
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Carotid sinus massage
>40 year with syncope of Continuous ECG and beat-to-
unknown etiology beat BP monitoring
Contraindications : Positive: suggesting carotid
MI/ Stroke within 3 mo sinus hypersensitivity
presence of carotid bruits asystolic pause of ≥3 seconds
fall in systolic BP of ≥50 mm
supine position: Gentle
Hg
massage the right followed
Negative: repeat test in the 60 to
by left carotid body for 5–
70° head up tilt position.
10 seconds
reproduction of symptoms:
carotid sinus syndrome
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Diagnosis of TLOC of Unknown Etiology
initial evaluation: diagnostic in 50% of cases
ECG Monitoring
Echocardiogram: clinical suspicion of structural heart
disease
exercise stress test
Provocative strategy: HUTT
EPS
Psychiatric and neurologic evaluation
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Head Up Tilt Test
without SHD
vasovagal syncope
positive test: hypotension,
bradycardia or asystole
cardoinhibitory,
vasodepressor, or mixed
response
accelerated with provocative
agents: IV isoproterenol or
sublingual nitroglycerine
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Treatment
Goals:
Determine for increased risk of death: underlying heart
disease, MI, WPW, life-threatening genetic
disease(LQTS, Brugada)
reduce mortality, injury, and recurrences.
correction of the underlying cause
ICD: syncope + VA detected or suspected
preventive measures: reflex mediated syncope or
orthostatic hypotension
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Pharmacological Treatment Device therapy
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Bradyarrhythmia
arbitrarily defined as a heart below 60bpm
Numerous causes
Physiologic or pathologic
Persistent or intermittent
Failure of impulse formation or conduction
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BradyarrhythmiaClassification
Classifications
Based on Disorder
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symptom-arrhythmia correlation
attempt to obtain ECG documentation during syncope
Persistent: ECG
intermittent: standard or prolonged ECG recordings
Exercise testing: syncope during or shortly a/r exertion
bradycardia suspected but not documented:
Provocative testing or EPS
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SA Node disease
DDx: physiologic sinus bradycardia: young
Higher frequency: 5th and 6th decades
Intrinsic or Extrinsic
Failure of impulse generation or conduction
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Extrinsic dysfunction Intrinsic sinus node dysfunction
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Clinical Features of SA Node Disease
clinical or ECG diagnosis Asymptomatic WITH ECG
longer-term recording and anomaly
symptom correlation Symptoms
generally are required from concomitant
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Natural History
varying, progression over long periods
mortality not compromised in the absence of
comorbid conditions
1/3rd-1/2: SVT- Af /AFL :-Associated with Sx
improvement
increased risk of cardiovascular events:
Thromboembolism
1/4th: concurrent AV conduction disease
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ECG of SAN Disease
sinus bradycardia
sinus pauses
sinus arrest
sinus exit block
tachycardia (in SSS) : AT, AFL, Af
chronotropic incompetence
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Sinus bradycardia
“inappropriate”/ pathologic:
Symptomatic
failure to appropriately increase heart rate during activity or
vigorous exercise.
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Sinus arrest/pause
Sinus Bradycardia
• Failure of sinus node discharge
• ECG: a pause without P waves
• no relationship between the pause and the basic cycle
length.
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Brady/Tachy Syndrome
occurs when the SA node has alternating periods of
firing too slowly (< 60 BPM) and too fast (>100 BPM)
ECG: Paroxysmal AT, flutter, or fibrillation
Cessation of the tachycardia is often followed by long
pauses from the SA node…. presyncope or syncope
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Sino-atrial Exit Block
Transient block of impulses from the SA node
Identified by P-P interval relationship: because SAN
continues to fire regularly
ECG: a pause without P waves
Second-degree SA block : intermittent absence of P waves
Type I second-degree SA block: progressive prolongation of SA node
conduction with intermittent failure of the impulses originating in the
sinus node to conduct to the surrounding atrial tissue.
type II second-degree SA block: no change in SAN conduction before
the pause.
Complete/ third-degree SA block: no P waves
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Treatment: SAN Dysfunction
Aim: alleviation of symptoms
Exclusion of extrinsic causes: D/C BB, CCB, AAD class
I and III
no specific treatment /temporary rate support: inferior MI
? pharmacologic therapy: digitalis (shorten SNRT),
Isoproterenol, atropine(Incr. sinus rate),
Theophylline(A,C)
Pacemaker implantation: symptomatic
Dual chamber pacing is preferred: increased incidence of
Af, AVB
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Atrioventricular Conduction Disease
Prognosis: the underlying myocardial process
AV node: a normal delay occurs
Etiologies :
Functional/reversible : Drugs, K/Mg, CSS, sleep
infectious diseases
autoimmune and infiltrative diseases
Aging: degenerative changes
neuromuscular diseases
Congenital
Iatrogenic
CAD :transient(10–25%) or persistent AV block
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AV nodal block Infranodal block
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second-degree AV block
intermittent failure of electrical impulse conduction
from atrium to ventricle
some P waves are not followed by a QRS complex
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2nd Degree AV Block–Mobitz Type I (Wenckebach)
progressive prolongation of the P-R interval with shortening of the R-R
intervals before the blocked cycle.
• a pause that is less than two times the immediately preceding
RR interval
associated shortening of the P-R interval in the first conducted cycle after the
block
block in the AV node: narrow QRS
Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until there is failure to
conduct and a ventricular beat is dropped
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2nd Degree AV Block–Mobitz Type II
• more serious
block occurs without prolongation in the preceding P-R
intervals
no change in the first conducted P-R interval after the
blocked P wave .
block is usually infranodal: very dangerous
associated with intraventricular conduction delays (e.g.,
BBB)
more likely to proceed to higher grades of AV block
AV block= 2:1…. difficult to distinguish type I from type II
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2:1 AV Block
every other P wave is followed by a QRS
impossible to tell if PR prolongs before the non-
conducted P waves
QRS duration
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Third-Degree AV Block =
complete heart block
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Bundle Branch Block
Bifascicular block:
RBBB + left anterior hemiblock -prolonged QRS
RBBB + left posterior hemiblock
Complete LBBB (both left anterior and posterior)
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Brady-arrhythmias Associated with Acute
Myocardial Infarction
Bradycardia: 4% to 5% -- SAN Dysfunction or AV block
Inferior MI
Sinus node dysfunction
Mechanism:
direct
affect on the SAN blood supply or
Bezold-Jarisch reflex
AV block
Mechanism: primarily disruption of blood supply to the AV nodal artery
transient and asymptomatic
anterior MI
AV block: infranodal - dependent on blood supply from the LAD.
symptomatic and irreversible
Prognosis and management depend on the location of the MI, degree
of AV block, and hemodynamic stability.
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Management of AV Conduction Block
exclusion of reversible causes
Adjunctive treatment: atropine, isoproterenol, theophylline
temporary pacing: transcutaneous/ transvenous
permanent pacemakers -in the absence of prompt resolution
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Indication for pacing in patients with persistent bradycardia
Recommendation Class Level
Sinus node disease. I B
Pacing is indicated when symptoms can clearly be attributed to
bradycardia.
Sinus node disease. IIB C
Pacing may be indicated when symptoms are likely to be due
to bradycardia, even if the evidence is not conclusive.
Sinus node disease. III C
Pacing is not indicated in patients with SB which is asymptomatic or
due to reversible causes.
Acquired AV block. I C
Pacing is indicated in patients with third- or second-degree
type 2 AV block irrespective of symptoms.
Acquired AV block. IIA C
Pacing should be considered in patients with second-degree
type 1 AV block which causes symptoms or is found to be
located at intra- or infra-His levels at EPS.
Acquired AV block. III C
Pacing is not indicated in patients with AV block which is due to
reversible causes.
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Choice of pacing mode
Recommendations Class Level
Sinus node disease. I A
A)Dual-chamber PM with preservation of (Vs VVI)
spontaneous AV conduction is indicated for reducing
the risk of AF and stroke, avoiding PM syndrome and B
improving quality of life. (Vs AAI)
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Indication for cardiac pacing in patients with
BBB
Recommendation Class Level
1) BBB, unexplained syncope and abnormal EPS. I B
Pacing is indicated in patients with syncope, BBB
and positive EPS defined as HV interval of ≥70 ms,
or second- or third-degree His-Purkinje block
demonstrated during
incremental atrial pacing or with pharmacological
challenge.
2) Alternating BBB. I C
Pacing is indicated in patients with alternating BBB
with or without symptoms.
3) BBB, unexplained syncope non diagnostic IIB B
investigations. Pacing may be considered in selected
patients with unexplained syncope and BBB
4) Asymptomatic BBB. III B
Pacing is not indicated for BBB in asymptomatic
patients
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Pacemakers
primary indication: symptomatic bradycardia
Temporary pacemakers:
ER: bridge to permanent pacing
transient dysrhythmia
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Transcutaneous pacing
stimulation through electrodes placed on the chest wall
Limitations:
pain with impulse delivery
skeletal muscle stimulation
decreased ability to capture the ventricle.
Role: ACLS- cardiac arrest attributable to bradycardia
or asystole
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Transvenous Pacing
current method of choice for temporary pacing
pacing catheter: directly stimulate the RV
myocardium
Advantages: patient comfort and relative ease, speed,
and safety of insertion
• CI: prosthetic tricuspid valve
Complications:4% to 20% - prolonged use
pneumothorax, myocardial perforation, infection,
bleeding, ventricular ectopy/nonsustained VT, or (rarely)
thromboembolism
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Permanent Pacemakers
Miniaturized, increased longevity of pulse generators,
multiprogrammable, versatile, rate responsive
placed transvenously via left subclavian or cephalic
vein.
In sinus node dysfunction, dual-chamber or atrial
pacing is preferred over ventricular pacing.
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Permanent Pacemakers
most common: VVIR , DDDR
modes and function are named using a five-letter code
Position I II III IV V V`
Category Rate antitachyc
Chamber( Chamber( Response Multisite
modulatio ardia
s) paced s) sensed to sensing pacing
n functions
0 = None 0 = None 0 = None 0 = None 0 = None O, none;
A= A= T= R = Rate A= P,
Atrium Atrium Triggered modulatio Atrium antitachyc
V= V= I= n V= ardia
Ventricle Ventricle Inhibited Ventricle pacing;
D = Dual D = Dual D = Dual D = Dual S, shock;
(A+V) (A+V) (T+I) (A+V) D, pace +
shock
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Features
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Pacing modes
Single chamber pacing
VVI, VVIR
AAI, AAIR
Dual chamber pacing
DDD, DDDR
DDI, DDIR
Less common modes: VDD, DVI
Asynchronous pacing: AOO, VOO,
DOO
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Pacemaker malfunction
Loss of capture
pacing spike with no P wave or QRS complex
lead dislodgement or malposition
inflammation or fibrosis at the lead/tissue interface,
low pacemaker output, lead failure, or battery depletion
Failure of sensing
Undersensing: pacemaker does not see native cardiac activity
and paces inappropriately in the middle of or after a P wave or
QRS complex, or has no relationship to the native cardiac
signal.
Oversensing: pacemaker sees non-physiology activity and
inhibits pacing. No pacing spikes are seen at the expected times.
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Complications related to implantation and
electronic function
Acute: rare- infection, hematoma, pneumothorax,
cardiac perforation, diaphragmatic/phrenic nerve
stimulation, and lead dislodgment
Chronic: infection, erosion, lead failure, and
abnormalities resulting from inappropriate
programming or interaction with the patient's native
electrical cardiac function.
"twiddler's syndrome" - now rare
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Complications from chronic cardiac pacing
AV dyssynchrony LV mechanical synchrony
pacemaker syndrome Right ventricular apical
neck pulsation, fatigue, pacing:
palpitations, cough, LV systolic dysfunction
confusion, exertional mitral valve
dyspnea, dizziness, regurgitation
syncope congestive heart failure.
elevation in JVP, canon A
Rx: Proper Selection of
waves, edema, rales,S3
Rx: Maintenance of AV pacing modes or
synchrony biventricular pacing
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Patient information
Need for follow-up: earlier if redness and discharge PM site
Avoid tight clothing or rubbing over your pacemaker site.
Avoid lifting greater than 10 pounds, vacuuming, moving
furniture for six weeks
Avoid lifting your arms over your head for 2 weeks
Avoid strong magnetic fields: power plants, large running
engines and MRI
Use cellular and portable phones on the opposite side of your
pacemaker site.
DO NOT walk through the metal detector at airport
Consult before any procedure: ESWL, Electrocautery, defib,
central venous catheter, radiation….
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References
Kaushik et al. Bradyarrhythmias, temporary and
permanent pacing. Crit care med 2000
2013 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and CRT
Syncope, ESC 2009
Syncope, circulation 2013
Harrisons principles of internal medicine, 18th ed.
Up-to-date
Syncope, circulation 2013
The only EKG book you will ever need, 4th ed.
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Thank you
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