Optimal pacing modes after cardiac transplantation: is synchronisation of recipient and donor atria beneficial?

• Published in: British Heart Journal 1992-08, Vol.68 (8), p.195-198
• Main Authors: Parry, Gareth, Malbut, Katie, Dark, John H, Bexton, Rodney S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Atrial Function - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Output - physiology; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial - methods; Female; Heart - physiopathology; Heart Transplantation - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart
• ISSN: 0007-0769; 1355-6037; 1468-201X; 2053-5864
• DOI: 10.1136/hrt.68.8.195

Objective—To investigate the response of the transplanted heart to different pacing modes and to synchronisation of the recipient and donor atria in terms of cardiac output at rest.Design—Doppler derived cardiac output measurements at three pacing rates (90/min, 110/min and 130/min) in five pacing modes: right ventricular pacing, donor atrial pacing, recipient-donor synchronous pacing, donor atrial-ventricular sequential pacing, and synchronous recipient-donor atrial-ventricular sequential pacing.Patients—11 healthy cardiac transplant recipients with three pairs of epicardial leads inserted at transplantation.Results—Donor atrial pacing (+11% overall) and donor atrial-ventricular sequential pacing (+8% overall) were significantly better than right ventricular pacing (p < 0·001) at all pacing rates. Synchronised pacing of recipient and donor atrial segments did not confer additional benefit in either atrial or atrial-ventricular sequential modes of pacing in terms of cardiac output at rest at these fixed rates.Conclusions—Atrial pacing or atrial-ventricular sequential pacing appear to be appropriate modes in cardiac transplant recipients. Synchronisation of recipient and donor atrial segments in this study produced no additional benefit. Chronotropic competence in these patients may, however, result in improved exercise capacity and deserves further investigation.