Echocardiographic Demonstration of the Effect of Varying Paced A-V Intervals on Ventricular Filling Pattern

Abstract

Impaired relaxation of the left ventricle (LV) (diastolic dysfunction) invariably is associated with LV systolic dysfunction.1 Atrial contribution to ventricular filling (second filling phase of diastole) is pivotal in the presence of impaired relaxation where early filling is reduced. Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) has been shown to improve diastolic function in patients with heart failure.2,3 Optimization of atrioventricular (AV) synchrony in sinus rhythm for patients with biventricular ICD (BiV ICD) for CRT is crucial in maximizing hemodynamic improvements.4,5

Keywords

• A-V interval
• ventricular filling
• echocardiography