BackgroundRight ventricular pacing may be deleterious in patients with left ventricular
dysfunction, but in patients with normal function the impact of this
stimulation triggering clinically relevant ventricular dysfunction is not
fully established.ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical, echocardiographic findings of patients with
previously normal left ventricular function underwent implantation of a
pacemaker.MethodsObservational, cross-sectional study with 20 patients, who underwent
implantation of pacemaker, prospectively followed-up, with the following
inclusion criteria: normal left ventricular function defined by
echocardiography and ventricular pacing higher than 90%. Were evaluated
functional class (FC) (New York Heart Association), 6-minute walk test
(6MWT), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), echocardiographic assessment
(conventional and dyssynchrony parameters), and quality of life
questionnaire (QLQ) (SF-36). The assessment was performed at ten days (t1),
four months (t2), eight months (t3), 12 months (t4) and 24 months (t5).ResultsConventional echocardiographic parameters and dyssynchrony parameters showed
statistically significant variation over time. The 6MWT, FC, and BNP showed
worsening at the end of two years. QLQ showed initial improvement and
worsening at the end of two years.ConclusionThe implantation of conventional pacemaker was associated with worsening in
functional class, worsening in walk test, increased BNP levels, increased
duration of QRS, and worsening in some domains of the QLQ at the end of two
years. There were no changes in echocardiography measurements (conventional
and asynchrony measures).