Clinical Research Directory

Central Haemodynamics and Pacing for AV Block

A randomized, single-blind study comparing two pacing strategies in patients with atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. This trial evaluates the impact of conduction system pacing (left bundle branch area pacing) versus standard right ventricular pacing on central hemodynamics, cardiac function, and patient quality of life over 12 months. The study will enroll 124 patients from two Estonian tertiary hospitals and measure central systolic arterial pressure as the primary outcome, with secondary assessments of arterial stiffness, echocardiographic parameters, electrical activation patterns, and quality of life scores.

Solutions to the Challenges of Conduction System Pacing

Conduction system pacing is a new way of stimulating the heart using pacemaker wires. Traditional pacemakers stimulate the heart muscle which causes disordered heart beats: the walls of the heart move at different times. This wears down the heart over time. Conduction system pacemakers stimulate the heart's electrical system directly producing natural heart beats that are much less disordered. Unfortunately, these pacemakers can only be implanted by a small group of experts at specialised centres with specialist equipment. This study aims to allow conduction system pacemakers to be offered to any patient at any hospital by simplifying the process of inserting the pacemaker wires and the improving the pacemaker's ability to interpret electrical traces. Firstly, the best locations in the heart for conduction system pacemaker wires using specialised electrical traces, MRI and ultrasound scans will be identified. Features that can be seen on X-ray to guide doctors to these locations will then be identified. Secondly, the investigators will collect electrical information from the pacemaker wires and additional electrical traces to develop an algorithm that can make the interpretation the electrical traces more accurate.

ECG and Echo Characteristics of BBAP

This is a prospective, single-site, non-randomized, interventional study. The purpose is to collect electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic (echo) parameters and computed tomography (CT) images (optional) during Bachmann's bundle area pacing (BBAP) and conventional pacing in the right atrial appendage (RAA) to compare the differences between atrial pacing modalities and to further investigate the clinical outcomes of BBAP.

One Year Pacing Dependency After TAVR

Pace maker implantation after the procedure of TAVR can be estimated at 15% of patients. However, some studies have shown that the conduction disturbances after TAVR could resolve over time, and that roughly between one- and two-thirds of patients who required a permanent pace maker implantation post TAVR were not found to be dependent at subsequent follow-up. This study aims to evaluate a cohort of patients permanently implanted with a pacemaker post-TAVR for high-grade conductive disorders and to describe the prevalence of effective pacemaker stimulation at 1 year follow-up. Secondary objectives include the evaluation of the prevalence of effective stimulation 3 months after implantation of the pace maker , description of the types of conductive disorders associated with atrial and/or ventricular stimulation, description of the initial indication for pacemaker implantation, description of the characteristics of the population with or without stimulation dependency. The objective is to better rationalize indication of permanent stimulation after TAVI