Prophylactic Permanent Pacemaker in Patients With Right Bundle Branch Block Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the safety and outcome of prophylactic pacemaker implantation in patients with right bundle-branch block undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve (TAVI) implantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular ejection fraction.Participants will be randomized to: * Prophylactic pacemaker implantation prior TAVI * Conservative strategy

Detailed description

BACKGROUND Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is standard of care treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis ≥ 75 years and/or not eligible for surgical aortic valve replacement 1. There are two types of prosthetic valves: balloon expandable (BE) and self-expandable (SE) types with their distinct features 2. The TAVI-procedure and preexisting conditions in this population entails a risk of permanent pacemaker implantation following TAVI due to conduction disturbances related to the valve implantation and valve type (BE vs. SE). The rate of permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI is between 2.3 - 36 % depending on valve type and pre-existing conditions3. Major risk factors are right bundle branch block (RBBB), left ventricular outflow track calcification, deeper valve implantation, and SE valves4. Pre-existing RBBB in patients undergoing TAVI occurs in 10% of the cases and it is associated with poor outcome5 in terms of higher pacemaker rate and mortality. Advanced conduction disturbances in patients with pre-existing RBBB occur within three days after the TAVI-procedure6. Hence, pre-existing RBBB is a major risk factor in the TAVI-population with higher mortality7 and needs special attention in peri-operative care. Current European Society Cardiology guidelines do not recommend prophylactic pacemaker implantation in patients without indication for permanent pacing8. However, cardiac pacing is associated with a risk of complications and development of heart failure9, and there is no randomized trial demonstrating a benefit of prophylactic pacemaker implantation in patients with pre-existing RBBB. Although previous observational data suggest prophylactic pacemaker implantation in patients with pre-existing RBBB shortens the TAVI procedure and prevents rehospitalization due to heart block10. Hence, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the outcome of prophylactic permanent pacemaker implantation in patients undergoing TAVI with pre-procedural RBBB and additional risk factors for need of post-procedural permanent pacing. This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcome and safety of prophylactic pacemaker implantation in this high-risk patient group versus a conservative strategy in a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE To evaluate safety and outcomes of prophylactic permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with RBBB undergoing TAVI.

HYPOTHESIS Prophylactic permanent pacemaker implantation reduces composite primary outcome in patients with RBBB undergoing TAVI.

Interventions

• Device Prophylactic pacemaker implantation
  Pacemaker implantation prior the TAVI-procedure

Primary outcome measures

• Events in the control arm [Time frame: 12 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing TAVI indicated by severe valvular aortic stenosis
• Written informed consent
• Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40 %
• Persistent RBBB in 12-lead electrocardiogram (RSR' pattern in V1-3, QRS duration > 120 milliseconds, and wide S wave in leads I, aVL, V5-6)

Exclusion criteria

• Other indications for pacemaker implantation or previously implanted pacemaker
• Life expectancy < 1 year
• No written informed consent

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Publications

• Vahanian A, Beyersdorf F, Praz F, Milojevic M, Baldus S, Bauersachs J, Capodanno D, Conradi L, De Bonis M, De Paulis R, Delgado V, Freemantle N, Gilard M, Haugaa KH, Jeppsson A, Juni P, Pierard L, Prendergast BD, Sadaba JR, Tribouilloy C, Wojakowski W; ESC/EACTS Scientific Document Group. 2021 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease. Eur Heart J. 2022 Feb 12;43(7):561-632 PMID 34453165
• Suh SH, Oh TR, Choi HS, Yang EM, Kim CS, Bae EH, Ma SK, Oh KH, Hyun YY, Sung S, Kim SW; Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) Investigators. Bone Mineral Density and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: Results from KNOW-CKD Study. J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 25;12(5):1850. doi: 10.3390/jcm12051850. PMID 36902637
• van Rosendael PJ, Delgado V, Bax JJ. Pacemaker implantation rate after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with early and new-generation devices: a systematic review. Eur Heart J. 2018 Jun 1;39(21):2003-2013. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx785. PMID 29420704
• Maeno Y, Abramowitz Y, Kawamori H, Kazuno Y, Kubo S, Takahashi N, Mangat G, Okuyama K, Kashif M, Chakravarty T, Nakamura M, Cheng W, Friedman J, Berman D, Makkar RR, Jilaihawi H. A Highly Predictive Risk Model for Pacemaker Implantation After TAVR. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017 Oct;10(10 Pt A):1139-1147. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2016.11.020. Epub 2017 Apr 12. PMID 28412434
• Auffret V, Webb JG, Eltchaninoff H, Munoz-Garcia AJ, Himbert D, Tamburino C, Nombela-Franco L, Nietlispach F, Moris C, Ruel M, Dager AE, Serra V, Cheema AN, Amat-Santos IJ, de Brito FS Jr, Lemos PA, Abizaid A, Sarmento-Leite R, Dumont E, Barbanti M, Durand E, Alonso Briales JH, Vahanian A, Bouleti C, Imme S, Maisano F, Del Valle R, Benitez LM, Garcia Del Blanco B, Puri R, Philippon F, Urena M, Rod PMID 28734885
• Watanabe Y, Kozuma K, Hioki H, Kawashima H, Nara Y, Kataoka A, Nagura F, Nakashima M, Shirai S, Tada N, Araki M, Takagi K, Yamanaka F, Yamamoto M, Hayashida K. Pre-Existing Right Bundle Branch Block Increases Risk for Death After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With a Balloon-Expandable Valve. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2016 Nov 14;9(21):2210-2216. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2016.08.035. PMID 27832846
• Glikson M, Nielsen JC, Kronborg MB, Michowitz Y, Auricchio A, Barbash IM, Barrabes JA, Boriani G, Braunschweig F, Brignole M, Burri H, Coats AJS, Deharo JC, Delgado V, Diller GP, Israel CW, Keren A, Knops RE, Kotecha D, Leclercq C, Merkely B, Starck C, Thylen I, Tolosana JM; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Eur Heart J. 202 PMID 34455430
• Nielsen JC, Andersen HR, Thomsen PE, Thuesen L, Mortensen PT, Vesterlund T, Pedersen AK. Heart failure and echocardiographic changes during long-term follow-up of patients with sick sinus syndrome randomized to single-chamber atrial or ventricular pacing. Circulation. 1998 Mar 17;97(10):987-95. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.97.10.987. PMID 9529267

Identifiers

NCT: NCT05889208 · TAVI-PACE

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗