Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE
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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol · Apr 2005
Rate-dependent AV delay optimization in cardiac resynchronization therapy.
During cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), cardiac performance is dependent on an optimized atrioventricular delay (AVD). However, the optimal AVD at different heart rates has not been defined yet during CRT. ⋯ In conclusion, the systolic performance of the dilated ventricle, which depends on an elevated preload, is critically affected by the appropriate timing of the AVD during exercise. In contrast to normal pacemaker patients, in CRT the relatively short baseline AVD should be prolonged at increased heart rates. Further studies with other means of measuring exercise cardiac performance are needed to confirm these unexpected findings.