Abstract
Biventricular pacing (BivP) is a promising therapy for patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF), left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and ventricular dyssynchrony. Patients with CHF (n = 28), Class III-IV NYHA, already receiving optimal medical therapy, and baseline wide QRS complex, were recruited over 18 months. They all received trans-venous BivP systems. Baseline Doppler studies were acquired and follow-up studies were done before discharge. BivP was associated with significant reduction of velocity-time integral (VTI) of the A wave (P=0.001), and of VTI A/Total ratio index (P=0.02), increase of VTI E/A ratio (P=0.05) and in total trans-mitral diastolic filling period (DFP) (P=0.01). Other diastolic function parameters were not altered. We conclude that BivP improves some diastolic function parameters in those with CHF and wide QRS complex, and that may contribute to improved quality of life observed with BivP.