Cardiac resynchronization in Poland – comparable procedural routines? Insights from CRT Survey II

Introduction

Benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have been clinically proven in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) [1–7]. Therefore, in current practice guidelines CRT is an unambiguously and strongly advocated treatment option in patients with heart failure (HF) [8, 9]. However, in clinical practice patients are often very much older and with more comorbidities than in RCTs.
Details related to the implantation procedure of the CRT may be one of the most important factors that could potentially have a significant impact on response to resynchronization therapy. However, the majority of the currently available data regarding CRT implantation routines and peri-procedural complications have been obtained from RCTs performed mostly in relatively high volume centres by experienced implanters. Therefore, widespread recommendations regarding CRT implementation, including clinical status, ECG findings and optimal implantation techniques, are based explicitly on data from RCTs. However, the first CRT survey demonstrated that a large number of CRT implantation procedures were not performed in line with the guidelines [10] and some details of procedural techniques also varied between participating centres [11].
Moreover, evidence from surveys and registry-based analyses that encompass everyday clinical practice, meaning all eligible, consecutive and high risk patients, may add to RCTs in creation of evidence-based medicine [12].

Aim

Bearing in mind all the facts mentioned above and having at our disposal a large group of patients with CRT implantation details coming from the CRT II Survey – a joint project between the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the Heart Failure Association (HFA) – we aimed to compare Polish and European procedural practice associated with CRT implantations in patients enrolled in the CRT II Survey.

Material and methods

Survey infrastructure

The survey was designed as a joint initiative between EHRA and the HFA. The design and rationale of CRT Survey II, along with the detailed contents of the eCRFs, have been published previously [13]. Briefly, the 47 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member states detailed in the 2014 EHRA White Book were invited to participate [14]. Finally, 42 ESC member countries participated in the survey. The survey gathered data on patients’ characteristics, investigations, indications for CRT, implant procedures and short-term outcome including adverse events. Each implanting centre was asked to provide information regarding facility type, size, and operator speciality. Information on operator experience was not collected.

Survey population

Any patient in the 42 participating countries was eligible for inclusion if they were selected and implanted with either a CRT with pacemaker function (CRT-P) or a CRT with an incorporated defibrillator (CRT-D). This included both successful and unsuccessful implantations as well as both de-novo CRT devices and upgrades from a previous permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Generator replacements or revisions of previously implanted CRT devices were excluded as the survey was designed to cover only de novo CRT implantations or upgrades from a previous PM or ICD. Specific data regarding an implantation procedure included inter alia: location of procedure, duration and fluoroscopy time, left ventricular (LV) lead type placement and its position X-ray evaluation, percentage of coronary venogram performance, and periprocedural complications. Information on lead insertion (venesection or puncture) was not collected.

Study population

A total of 288 centres from 42 European countries enrolled data of a total of 11 088 patients implanted with a CRT device with or without a cardioverter-defibrillator between October 2015 and December 2016. In this cohort of patients 1241 (11.2%) patients recruited in 37 Polish centres – university, regional, and private (Poland group) – are presented in comparison to the total 9847 (88.8%) patients enrolled throughout Europe (CRT II Survey group).

Statistical analysis

Absolute numbers and percentages were shown for categorical variables to describe the patient population, and means (with standard deviations) or medians (with interquartile range) were used for continuous variables. Categorical variables were compared between subgroups by the 2 test and continuous variables (numerical values) by the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. A significance level of p < 0.05 was assumed for the statistical tests. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS statistical software (version 9.3, Cary, NC, USA).

Results

The principal clinical implications from this investigation can be summarized as follows: first, the percentage of successful attempts of CRT implantation in the entire cohort was high (about 97%); second, CRT implantation practices may vary across European countries; third, in Poland CRT-P is generally less frequently implanted; finally, the periprocedural complication rate was higher in Poland in comparison to the rest of Europe.
Poland was the greatest participant in the CRT Survey with more than 12% of the total patient material. Polish patients were younger with more ischemic heart disease, more often received an CRT-D and more often were upgraded from a previous PM or ICD.
We found important differences in Polish procedural routines in relation to the rest of participating European countries, indicating that heterogeneous CRT implantation practices across European countries may still exist.
The baseline clinical characteristics of the study groups are presented in Table I. On the whole, despite younger age, patients treated in Poland had a more severe clinical profile with, among other things, higher rates of: ischemic cardiomyopathy (58.5% vs. 42.7%, p < 0.001), previous myocardial infarction (48.4% vs. 34.7%, p < 0.001), previous coronary revascularization (51.2% vs. 37.3%, p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (43.8% vs. 40.5%, p = 0.03) and lower mean left ventricle ejection fraction (26.4% vs. 28.7%, p < 0.001).
General outcome data are presented in Table II. There were 1250 implants attempts in Poland and 9960 in the CRT II Survey group, and 1191 (96.1%) successful in the Poland group vs. 9606 (97.4%) in the CRT II Survey group. Procedural details of the study groups are presented in Table III and Figures 1–3. Among others, significant differences were observed in: previous device implantation (30.7% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.02), type of device implanted (for CRT-D: 87% vs. 67.6%, p < 0.001), type of operator (for electrophysiologist: 69.2% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001), type of location of procedure (for operating room: 19.4% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.001), procedure duration (117.8 ±44 vs. 97.5 ±46.1 min, p < 0.001), left ventricle lead type (for multipolar lead: 50% vs. 57.9%, p < 0.001), and coronary sinus venogram with occlusion rate (41.4% vs. 47.9%, p < 0.001) between Poland and CRT II Survey groups.
Additionally, the periprocedural complication rate was higher in the Polish group than in the CRT Survey group (7.5% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.001) (Table IV). In particular pneumothorax and coronary sinus dissection were more common in Poland. This might be associated either with lead insertion technique and operator experience or with higher percentage of Polish patients with dual antiplatelet (13.9% vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001) and triple anticoagulation therapy (2.9% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.02) (Table V).

Discussion

Within the last decade cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has been proven to be a highly effective therapy to reduce morbidity and mortality in chronic HF patients [1–7]. Therefore, current practice guidelines strongly support CRT implantation in optimally pharmacologically treated patients. It is estimated that about 400 patients per million per year might be suitable for CRT, or up to 400 000 patients per year in ESC countries [8]. Accordingly, we are deeply convinced that the knowledge about everyday clinical practice, including procedural aspects and periprocedural complications related to CRT implantation procedures, will allow us to responsibly improve current standards. Such data, encompassing details about consecutive, real-life, non-selected procedures, can be delivered by surveys and registries.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Survey II provided precious information regarding CRT implantation routines in nearly three hundred centres from 42 European countries. One of the main goals of the survey was to make representative benchmarking both nationally and internationally accessible. Thus, in this substudy we compared Polish and European CRT routines. Polish centres participating have included the largest number of patients. We focused on the technical issues related to CRT implantation procedures – one of the most important factors in the potential response to resynchronization therapy.
Safe and effective CRT device implantation requires the appropriate environment, trained personnel, equipment and optimally located left ventricle (LV) lead. These aspects may affect the frequency, especially of early but also long-term complications.
Considering the above-mentioned “appropriate environment and trained personnel”, as far as we are concerned, the link between operator type or location of procedure and type of CRT used has not been studied previously. We found that invasive cardiologists were more likely to implant CRT among eligible patients in Poland in comparison to other participating countries. The underlying reasons for this association and its potential impact on the procedural and especially long-term outcome remain unknown. In our opinion, further research to compare CRT implantations according to clinician training, type of the operator specialty, operator experience and place of the procedure may provide insights into strategies to further optimize CRT use.
Although CRT Survey II did not provide information regarding complications due to a venous access and operator experience, it was previously proved that the blind puncture approach of the subclavian or axillary vein is associated with a higher risk of pneumothorax [15]. There are no direct studies concerning operator experience and complication rate in patients with CRT. However, the risk of CRT implantation infection was significantly higher in patients who had their CRT implanted by an inexperienced operator [16].
Regarding “equipment”, this study shows that the multipolar LV lead was a frequent option in the entire cohort. LV lead selection may not only result in more frequent challenges posed during implantation of the CRT system, but also allows to facilitate the optimal outcome in terms of obtaining an adequate capture threshold and avoidance of phrenic nerve stimulation. Multipolar leads offer various pacing configurations to minimize phrenic nerve capture and may permit reprogramming to alternate stimulation vectors to ameliorate this problem without re-intervention [17–19]. The use of a multipolar lead may also be a promising option for patients with ischemic HF and the presence of a scar around the LV lead placement is potentially an important factor of decrease of CRT response. However, the application of multisite pacing using a multipolar lead to increase CRT effectiveness has been investigated with conflicting results [20, 21].
Another issue regards differences between de novo CRT implantations and upgrades from previous devices. The latest studies demonstrated that implantation procedures in upgraded patients were equally successful and complications similar to de novo implantations [22].
Following “optimally located LV lead” mainly (above 80%) and similarly in both groups lateral LV lead position as assessed in the left anterior oblique site was recorded. However, in the Poland group anterior LV lead position was more frequent. Right anterior oblique evaluation, primarily middle placement (about 70%), was observed equally in compared groups. In spite of the fact that there is increasing evidence proving that selection of specific LV sites for pacing may improve CRT outcomes, no data are available from any large RCT and therefore no clear recommendations have been introduced; however, LV lead placement in anterior veins should be avoided. Sub-analysis reports of two major randomized clinical trials support lateral and deny apical placement. The REVERSE study has suggested that lateral position of the LV lead is associated with better outcome in terms of reverse remodelling and results collected from the MADIT-CRT trial have revealed that apical placement of the LV lead is associated with a less favourable outcome [23, 24].
Although there is increasing evidence of the benefit of optimizing the LV positions if the anatomy allows for choices, attempts to optimize LV lead position during implantation overall were not intense and were made less frequently in the Polish group (20.1% vs. 35.6%). The preferred LV lead placement should be over the region of the latest mechanical activation. This approach is supported by the results of the TARGET (Targeted Left Ventricular Lead Placement to Guide Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) trial, which showed that positioning of the LV lead at the latest activated region resulted in a better echocardiographic and clinical response and less HF hospitalization [25]. Likewise, the position of the LV lead in the region of the latest electrical activation often applied using QLV has been linked to a greater response to CRT [26]. A possible explanation for the reluctance to perform systematic optimisation of the LV lead position is that such an approach might lack a routine to use QLV or other electrical dyssynchrony criteria during the procedure or imaging techniques considered as more demanding for the implanting cardiologists and its advantages are yet to be proved in large randomized clinical trials.
Discussing the results in Polish and the whole CRT Survey groups, there are some major differences (i.e. percentage of complications, optimal LV lead placement and fluoroscopy time). In our opinion, Poland should focus on training so that more experienced operators can perform safe and effective procedures.

Limitations

Several limitations to the current study should be stressed. Surveys have their own limitations which need to be acknowledged and considered during interpretation of findings. Differences in practice between countries can skew the results [27]. Centre participation was voluntary and we estimate that about 11% of patients implanted with CRT in participating countries were enrolled in the survey. Although consecutive inclusion was strongly encouraged, we cannot confirm that all patients were included consecutively. The accuracy of the data has not been audited and there may be a potential selection bias. However, the investigators conducted a ‘front-end’ data check and post database lock quality control analyses designed to prevent incorrect data being analysed.

Conclusions

This study provides important information describing current Polish differences in procedural routines in relation to the rest of participating European countries. Heterogeneous CRT implantation practices across European countries may still exist. However, it may be related to a different clinical profile of patients qualified for CRT implantation in Poland.

Acknowledgments

Mateusz Tajstra and Damian Łasocha equally contributed to the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Corresponding author:
Dr Mateusz Tajstra, 3rd Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 2 Szpitalna St, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland, phone: +48 32 373 36 19, e-mail: mateusztajstra@wp.pl
Received: 27.03.2019, accepted: 1.07.2019.