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The Leadless AV Versus DDD Pacing Study

Phase 4
Recruiting
Conditions
Heart Diseases
Cardiac Pacemaker
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Cardiovascular Diseases
Interventions
Device: Conventional pacemaker DDD
Device: Leadless pacemaker Micra AV
Registration Number
NCT05498376
Lead Sponsor
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Brief Summary

Cardiac pacemaker (PM) implantation is the established treatment for relevant bradyarrhythmias. Conventional PMs require 1-3 pacing leads to register the heart's intrinsic activity ("sensing") and to deliver the electrical stimuli to the heart ("pacing"). These leads are responsible for the vast majority of morbidity after implantation and PM failures. Therefore, a leadless PM system (Micra TPS™, Medtronic, United States) has been introduced a few years ago. This system overcomes the limitations of leads, however, the first generation of the Micra TPS™ only allowed sensing and pacing in the right ventricle. More recently, an upgraded version has been introduced and gained market approval (Micra AV, Medtronic, United States). According to published results from several clinical trials, this device allows sensing the atrial activity and, thus, timing the delivery of the ventricular pacing impulse in a physiological manner similar to a conventional dual-chamber PM with two leads. Clinical feasibility and safety for this concept have been established already. However, it is unclear if this translates into a direct clinical benefit for patients in comparison to conventional PM systems.

The aim of this trial is to compare the therapeutic efficacy of the Micra AV™ PM and conventional dual-chamber PM systems in patients with intermittent or permanent atrioventricular conduction block and a PM indication according to the latest European guidelines. Thus, patients will be randomized to either a conventional dual-chamber PM implantation or the implantation of a leadless Micra AV™ system. Patients will be stratified for gender (female/male) and a priori estimated physical exercise capacity ("fit"/"unfit"). The primary outcome will be the physical exercise capacity of the patients.

The null hypothesis with regards to the primary endpoint is that the leadless pacemaker arm shows an inferior VO2 anaerobic threshold than the conventional pacemaker arm. Hence the alternative hypothesis postulates that the leadless pacemaker arm shows a non-inferior VO2 anaerobic threshold compared to the conventional pacemaker arm. Rejection of the null hypothesis is needed to conclude non-inferiority.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients (≥70y) undergoing a de-novo pacemaker implantation due to intermittent or permanent AV block, qualifying for a conventional or leadless pacemaker
  • Written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Permanent atrial fibrillation or atrial standstill
  • Evidence of sinus node disease and need for right atrial pacing (not possible with Micra AV)
  • LVEF <50% and permanent high-degree or total AVB (requiring CRT/His-Bundle/CSP pacing)
  • Preoperative E/A ratio >1.5 in the echocardiography
  • Any co-existing ICD indications (no leadless ICD systems available)
  • Hemodialysis
  • Presence of a mechanical tricuspid valve prosthesis
  • Unwilling or unable to comply fully with study procedures and follow-up

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Conventional pacemaker DDDConventional pacemaker DDDImplantation of a conventional dual-chamber PM
Leadless pacemaker Micra AVLeadless pacemaker Micra AVImplantation of a leadless pacemaker system (Micra AV™)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Exercise capacityMonth 3 post implantation

Exercise capacity (VO2 at anaerobic threshold) as assessed by spiroergometry

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total implantation timeDuring implantation on day 0

Total implantation time

Maximum atrial heart rateMonth 3 post implantation

Maximum atrial heart rate as assessed by spiroergometry

Total fluoroscopy dosageDuring implantation on day 0

Total fluoroscopy dosage during implantation

Sensing valuesDays 0,1 and months 1,3,12 and 24 post implantation

Sensing values of the implanted pacemaker

VO2maxMonth 3 post implantation

VO2max assessed by spiroergometry

VE/VCO2Month 3 post implantation

VE/VCO2 assessed by spiroergometry

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)Day 0 and months 3, 12 and 24 post implantation

LVEF as assessed by echocardiography

LaboratoryDay 0 and month 3 post implantation

NT-proBNP

Total fluoroscopy timeDuring implantation on day 0

Total fluoroscopy time during implantation

Pacing thresholdsDays 0,1 and months 1,3,12 and 24 post implantation

Pacing thresholds of the implanted pacemaker

Impedance valuesDays 0,1 and months 1,3,12 and 24 post implantation

Impedance values of the implanted pacemaker

Duration of exerciseMonth 3 post implantation

Duration of exercise until exhaustion assessed by spiroergometry

VE/VO2Month 3 post implantation

VE/VO2 assessed by spiroergometry

Degree of tricuspid valve regurgitationDay 0 and months 3, 12 and 24 post implantation

Degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation assessed by trans-thoracic echocardiogram. The degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation will be classified as "none", "mild", "moderate" or "severe"

Safety outcomesDays 0,1 and months 1,3,12 and 24 post implantation

Major adverse events (death, cardiac tamponade, any surgical reintervention, pocket/groin problems, lead/device dislocations; electrode noise, pacing impedance out of range (\<200 or \>2000Ω), failure to capture at maximum output, infections and thrombosis/embolism); rate of pacemaker syndrome developed by patients; rate of device upgrades/revisions required

Degree of mitral valve regurgitationDay 0 and months 3, 12 and 24 post implantation

Degree of mitral valve regurgitation assessed by trans-thoracic echocardiogram. The degree of mitral valve regurgitation will be classified as "none", "mild", "moderate" or "severe"

Quality of Life scores measured with the EQ-5D-5L QuestionnaireDays 0,1 and months 1,3,12 and 24 post implantation

Quality of Life scores measured with the EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire Scores: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, each with a 5-scale response option; current health state assessed with a number between 0 and 100

AV synchronyDay 1 and months 1,3,12 and 24 post implantation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Inselspital, Bern University Hospital

🇨🇭

Bern, Switzerland

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