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. 2022 Sep 26;17(9):e0275276.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275276. eCollection 2022.

Inadvertent QRS prolongation by an optimization device-based algorithm in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy

Kamil Sedláček  1 , Rostislav Polášek  2 , Helena Jansová  3 , Domenico Grieco  4 , Pavel Kučera  2 , Josef Kautzner  3 , Darrel P Francis  5 , Dan Wichterle  3   6
Affiliations

Inadvertent QRS prolongation by an optimization device-based algorithm in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy

Kamil Sedláček et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Device-based algorithms offer the potential for automated optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but the process for accepting them into clinical use is currently still ad-hoc, rather than based on pre-clinical and clinical testing of specific features of validity. We investigated how the QuickOpt-guided VV delay (VVD) programming performs against the clinical and engineering heuristic of QRS complex shortening by CRT.

Methods: A prospective, 2-center study enrolled 37 consecutive patients with CRT. QRS complex duration (QRSd) was assessed during intrinsic atrioventricular conduction, synchronous biventricular pacing, and biventricular pacing with QuickOpt-proposed VVD. The measurements were done manually by electronic calipers in signal-averaged and magnified 12-lead QRS complexes.

Results: Native QRSd was 174 ± 22 ms. Biventricular pacing with empiric AVD and synchronous VVD resulted in QRSd 156 ± 20 ms, a significant narrowing from the baseline QRSd by 17 ± 27 ms, P = 0.0003. In 36 of 37 patients, the QuickOpt algorithm recommended left ventricular preexcitation with VVD of 42 ± 18 ms (median 40 ms; interquartile range 30-55 ms, P <0.00001). QRSd in biventricular pacing with QuickOpt-based VVD was significantly longer compared with synchronous biventricular pacing (168 ± 25 ms vs. 156 ± 20 ms; difference 12 ± 11ms; P <0.00001). This prolongation correlated with the absolute VVD value (R = 0.66, P <0.00001).

Conclusions: QuickOpt algorithm systematically favours a left-preexcitation VVD which translates into a significant prolongation of the QRSd compared to synchronous biventricular pacing. There is no reason to believe that a manipulation that systematically widens QRSd should be considered to optimize physiology. Device-based CRT optimization algorithms should undergo systematic mechanistic pre-clinical evaluation in various scenarios before they are tested in large clinical studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Dr Kautzner reports personal fees from Bayer, Biosense Webster, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Medtronic, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Merit Medical, and St. Jude Medical (Abbott) for participation in scientific advisory boards, and has received speaker honoraria from Bayer, Biosense Webster, Biotronik, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Medtronic, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Pfizer, ProMed, and St. Jude Medical (Abbott). All other authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the paper. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. QRSd with synchronous biventricular pacing and after QuickOpt optimization.
QRSd, QRS duration; VVD, ventriculo-ventricular delay.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Distribution of VVD as suggested by the QuickOpt algorithm.
Left ventricular preexcitation was suggested in all but one patient with VVD = 0. IQR, interquartile range; VVD, ventriculo-ventricular delay.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Distribution of relative QRSd prolongation due to QuickOpt optimization.
Relative QRSd prolongation is the difference in QRSd between the QuickOpt-guided and synchronous biventricular pacing. QRSd was prolonged in all but five patients: not changed in 2 patients; shortened by 5–8 ms in 3 patients. IQR, interquartile range; QRSd, QRS duration.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Correlation between QuickOpt-suggested VVD and QuickOpt-related QRSd prolongation.
QRSd, QRS duration; VVD, ventriculo-ventricular delay.
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