OBJECTIVETo examine the efficacy and safety of implantation of the device with combined cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioversion defibrillation (ICD) capabilities.

METHODSEleven patients aged 48 - 80 (71.6 +/- 9.5) years, 7 male and 4 female, were included in the study. All patients had either a history of aborted sudden cardiac death, ventricular tachyarrhythmia, or induced ventricular tachycardia during cardiac electrophysiological study, whose left ventricular ejection fractions were 35% or less and QRS durations were 120 or longer. The patients were implanted a Medtronic INSYNC II MARQUIS(TH) 7289. All left ventricular leads were implanted in left lateral or left posterior lateral side-branches of coronary sinus. The procedures were performed in general anesthesia status. The AV interval was optimized guided by ECHO in all the patients in the day after the procedure.

RESULTSAll procedures were successfully completed without major complications. The fluoroscopy time was 19 - 73 (44.7 +/- 19.9) min. Atrial lead amplitude, resistance and threshold were 0.5 - 3.5 (2.47 +/- 0.77) mV, 410 - 749 (590 +/- 126) Omega and 0.9 - 3.0 (1.37 +/- 0.71) V respectively. Right ventricular septal lead amplitude, resistance and threshold were 6.8 - 15.8 (11.00 +/- 3.48) mV, 387 - 750 (586 +/- 116) Omega and 0.4 - 1.0 (0.69 +/- 0.21) V respectively. The amplitude, resistance and threshold of left ventricular leads were 1.2 - 25 (15.37 +/- 5.15) mV, 423 - 812 (602 +/- 125) Omega and 0.3 - 5.0 (1.62 +/- 1.59) V respectively. The defibrillation thresholds (DFT) of 20 J were obtained in 3 patients, 6 J in 3 patients, and 15 J, 12 J and 3 J in one patient respectively. One of the 11 patients with failed old device did not obtain successful DFT after lead and device replacement and was defibrillated externally during DFT test. The another one did not obtain successful DFT because of abnormal ST-T changes in ECG. All devices were programmed to maximum of 30 J and discharged from the hospital in 48 hours except the one who failed to obtain DFT. The patients with mitral regurgitation improved after the AV optimization.

CONCLUSIONSImplantation of device with CRT and ICD features is safe even in aging patients. The long time outcomes of the clinical efficacy of this combined device remain to be observed.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Female ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; therapy