OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether pacing or sensing configuration has an effect on pacing parameters or their time progression. Three left ventricular (LV) pacing parameters were monitored - the LV pacing threshold, pacing impedance and intrinsic R-wave amplitude. METHODS: DATA WERE COLLECTED AT THREE INTERVALS: during implantation; between the second and fifth month after implantation (first follow-up); and between the eighth and 15th month after implantation (second follow-up). Repeated-measures ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The impedance, but not its time progression, was significantly higher for the LV tip to LV ring configuration than for other configurations. R-wave amplitude and impedance increased significantly (without dependance on configurations) between implantation and first follow-up, as expected. The time progression of any parameter was not dependent on configuration of the LV lead. CONCLUSIONS: LV tip to LV ring is the best configuration for maintaining a high impedance level. It is better to maintain an individual approach for pacing threshold and R-wave amplitude, and their settings.

Institute of Biophysics and Informatics 1st Medical Faculty Charles University Prague