65-year-old man implanted with a triple-chamber defibrillator Viva XT CRT-D for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with left bundle branch block; 3 months post implant interrogation.
The first line corresponds to an electrocardiographic lead with superimposed markers, the second line to the bipolar right ventricular EGM (EGM3) and the third line to the bipolar atrial recording (EGM1);
As explained previously, the device first dichotomizes patients between those with preserved atrioventricular conduction and those with impaired conduction (long PR or complete atrioventricular block). The functioning and philosophy of the algorithm subsequently differs completely according to this assessment. If the conduction is considered “normal”, the objective of the algorithm is to seek a fusion between spontaneous right ventricular activation and left ventricular pacing. This algorithm is therefore specifically adapted for patients with left bundle branch block that have normal right ventricular activation which should theoretically be preserved, and an asynchronous and delayed left ventricular activation which should conversely be changed and reversed. In these patients, the potential benefit of this algorithm is twofold:
This tracing shows the functioning of this algorithm in this setting. In order for the patient to be paced in pure LV mode, the following elements must be met, which is the case in this patient: