Mid-Term Results of Dual-Chamber Pacing in Children with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

• Published in: Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 289 - 295
• Main Authors: ALDAY, LUIS E., BRUNO, EVA, MOREYRA, EDUARDO, AMUCHASTEGUI, LUIS M., JUANEDA, ERNESTO, MAISULS, HECTOR
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.1998
• Subjects: DDD pacing; hypertrophic obstructive cardiography; pediatric obstructive cardiography
• ISSN: 0742-2822; 1540-8175
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8175.1998.tb00609.x

Background: Permanent dual‐chambered pacing (DDD) is an alternative to surgical treatment in patients with severe hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) who do not have a satisfactory response to medical treatment. Methods: Five children with severe HOCM still symptomatic despite medical treatment underwent permanent DDD pacing and were followed for 21 ± 9.7 months. Results: All patients improved their functional class. Doppler echocardiographic studies showed an early reduction of the left ventricular outflow tract gradient from 66 ± 40 to 40 ± 20 mmHg (P < 0.05) and to 30 ± 11 mmHg (P < 0.05 and NS for comparison with the baseline and the early post‐DDD pacing gradients, respectively) at mid‐term follow‐up. There was no evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and the results of left ventricular filling studies ruled out deleterious effects on diastolic function. Doppler echocardiography played a key role in the initial and subsequent assessment of these patients. Conclusions: Permanent DDD pacing is a reasonable alternative to surgery in children with HOCM who are still symptomatic despite medical therapy.