Impact of Right Ventricular Pacing on Heart Function in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Shalganov Tchavdar Nikolov, Paprika Dora, Vatasescu Radu, Kardos Attila, Mihalcz Attila, Kornyei Laszlo, Szatmari Andras, Szili-Torok Tamas
Primary Institution: Gottsegen Gyorgy National Institute of Cardiology, Budapest, Hungary
Hypothesis
Does chronic right ventricular apical pacing affect left ventricular function in pediatric patients with and without structural heart disease?
Conclusion
Chronic right ventricular pacing in pediatric patients does not necessarily lead to a decline in left ventricular function, although a significant decrease was observed in those with complex congenital heart malformations.
Supporting Evidence
- Left ventricular shortening fraction did not change significantly after pacemaker implantation overall.
- In patients with complex congenital heart malformations, shortening fraction decreased significantly during the follow-up period.
- Six patients developed dilated cardiomyopathy after pacemaker implantation.
Takeaway
This study looked at kids with heart problems who had pacemakers. It found that having a pacemaker doesn't always make their heart function worse, but it can in some kids with more serious heart issues.
Methodology
The study was retrospective, analyzing 99 pediatric patients with pacemakers, assessing left ventricular function through echocardiography over an average follow-up of 53 months.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and relies on left ventricular shortening fraction as a marker of function, which may not be the best measure.
Participant Demographics
The cohort included 99 pediatric patients, with 55 males, divided into subgroups based on heart conditions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.015
Statistical Significance
p = 0.015
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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