Thoracoscopic Implantation of Epicardial Left Ventricular Lead for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

(1) Background: Limited data exist on the safety and efficacy of epicardial left ventricular (LV) lead placement using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). (2) Methods: Acute and post-discharge outcomes of CRT were compared between patients with epicardial LV leads (Epicardial-LV group, n = 13) and those with endocardial LV leads (Endocardial-LV group, n = 243). (3) Results: Epicardial LV leads were implanted via VATS alone (n = 8) or along with mini-thoracotomy (n = 5), for failed endocardial implantation (n = 11) or recurrent lead dislodgement (n = 2). All epicardial procedures under general anesthesia with one-lung ventilation were successfully completed in 1.0 +/- 0.4 h without phrenic nerve stimulation. LV pacing thresholds in the epicardial-LV (1.5 +/- 1.0 V) and endocardial-LV (1.3 +/- 0.8 V) were comparable (p = 0.651). All patients were discharged alive post-VATS 8.8 +/- 3.9 days. During the follow-up (34.3 +/- 28.6 months), all patients with epicardial LV leads stayed alive except for one cardiac death post-CRT 14 months and one heart transplantation post-CRT 30 months. All epicardial LV leads maintained stable performance without dislodgement/significant changes in pacing threshold/impedance. LV lead dislodgement occurred only in endocardial-LV (7/243, 2.9%). Efficacy in both groups was comparable in terms of QRS narrowing, increase in LV ejection fraction, and survival free of cardiac death, or heart-failure-related hospitalization. (4) Conclusions: Epicardial LV lead placement using VATS can be a safe and effective alternative to endocardial implantation, with comparable acute and post-discharge outcomes achieved by both approaches.

Automated summary

This study compared the outcomes of patients with epicardial LV leads and endocardial LV leads for cardiac resynchronization therapy. It found that both approaches achieved comparable acute and post-discharge outcomes.