Electrical and Mechanical Cardiac Resynchronisation by Novel Direct His-bundle Pacing in a Heart Failure Patient

Efficacy of standard cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) by biventricular pacing via coronary sinus depends on the target site for left ventricular (LV) pacing, which in a not insignificant number of patients is limited by anatomical constraints. Direct His-bundle pacing (DHBP) is considered an alternative method of pacing for patients requiring cardiac stimulation in order to obviate detrimental effects of right ventricular pacing on LV function. However, its role in CRT has not been investigated, with scarce number of cases recently reported. We present a case of a heart failure patient in whom CRT was considered and treated by DHBP. In addition to electrical resynchronisation and optimal clinical response, echocardiography showed successful ventricular mechanical synchrony. To our knowledge, these latter findings are for the first time described in the setting of CRT by DHBP. (Heart, Lung and Circulation 2011;20:769-772) (C) 2011 Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.