Ventricular sense response pacing in cardiac resynchronisation therapy: a potentially effective treatment option for heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) for atrial fibrillation (AF) with intraventricular conduction and low cardiac output may not allow high-frequency biventricular pacing (BiVP). To this end, drugs and ablation treatments are commonly used. Ventricular sense response pacing (VSRP) senses self-pulse and can produce a state comparable with BiVP. If found to be effective for cardiac resynchronisation, the benefit of CRT with VSRP is expected to extend to patients with AF. Herein, we describe the case of a man in his early 60s with low cardiac output caused by AF and left bundle branch block. CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation was performed, and VSRP was applied. We found VSRP to be more effective in improving cardiac function than drug-induced BiVP. VSRP may become an effective treatment option following CRT-D implantation in patients with AF.