LV CONSEPT study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Left ventricular endocardial pacing through the ventricular septum (LV CONSEPT)
IRAS ID
121836
Contact name
Tim Betts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals
Research summary
Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is known to result in significant improvement in the symptoms of selected patients with heart failure, and to reduce hospital admission and death rates in these patients. CRT can improve cardiac function by improving the coordination of the heart beat using a special pacemaker. This requires a wire in the coronary sinus, one of the veins running around the outside of the heart, to stimulate the outside of the left ventricle (main pumping chamber).
There are two particular issues with this standard technique. In some patients it is not possible to get the wire into the coronary sinus due to difficult vein shapes, and in others the wire can be put there, but it does not end up in a suitable position to act on the heart enough to improve heart function. This is thought to be a major part of the reasons why one in four patients doesn’t improve with CRT (“non-responders”).
We have developed a novel method of pacing the left ventricle of the heart by putting the wire through a tiny hole made in the muscle between the left and right ventricles and pacing the inside surface of the left ventricular chamber. This will allow patients in whom the coronary sinus cannot be used to have CRT. We will also offer it to patients who have not improved with CRT, as there is evidence that they may respond to this procedure due to physiological benefits from pacing the inside rather than the outside and also the ability to steer the lead anywhere on the inner surface.
We have done this new procedure in a small number of patients already. This study will allow closer follow-up of more patients, and also investigation of ways to optimise results of the procedure for these patients.REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0186
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion