Our study aimed at finding the incidence of overt heart failure or asymptomatic left ventricular systolic/diastolic dysfunction and cardiac dyssynchrony in patients undergoing single or dual chamber cardiac pacing and its impact on exercise capacity. 80 patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation (single or double chamber) were examined for various predetermined echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function, diastolic function and dyssynchrony before and one year after implantation. Also the impact of pacing on the exercise capacity is assessed by six minute walk test. The various echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function, diastolic function and dyssynchrony namely, Ejection Fraction (EF), E´ velocity, Interventricular Mechanical Delay (IVMD), Septum to Posterior Wall Motion Delay (SPWMD), Time to peak Systolic velocity between the septal and lateral wall (Ts-SL), showed no significant variation between before and after pacemaker implantation values. In patients with normal ejection fraction and with no structural heart disease there was no significant difference in the systolic, diastolic function and various dyssynchrony indices after one year of right ventricular pacing.Also right ventricular pacing did not affect the functional capacity of the patient as assessed by six minute walk test.

Keywords: Cardiac pacing, Echodoppler parameters, Left ventricular systolic function, Left ventricular diastolic function, Six minute walk test.

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Lipika Adhikari

Assistant Professor, Cardiology Department, RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata

Address: C/O Manoj Adhikari, School Danga, post & district Bankura, West Bengal, PIN 722101, India