A Network Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of Left Bundle Branch Pacing, His Bundle Pacing, Biventricular Pacing or RV Pacing in Patients Requiring Permanent Pacemaker

Background: Cardiac dyssynchronization is the proposed mechanism for pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy. The standard of treatment is biventricular pacing. Left bundle branch pacing and His bundle pacing are novel interventions that imitate the natural conductionof the heart with, theoretically, less interventricular dysynchrony. One of the surrogate markers of interventricular synchrony is QRS duration. Our study aimed to compare the change of QRS duration before and after implantation between types of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED): left bundle branch pacing versus His bundle pacing versus biventricular pacing and conventional right ventricular pacing. Methods: : A literature search for studies that reported an interval change of QRS duration after CIED implantation was conducted utilizing the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. All relevant work through September 2020 from these databases was included in this analysis. A random-effects model network meta-analysis was used to analyze QRS duration changes (i.e., electrical cardiac synchronization) across different CIED implantations. Results: : The mean study sample size, from 16 included studies, was 185 subjects. According to SUCRA analysis for the studies analyzed, the His bundle pacing intervention resulted in the most dramatic decline in QRS duration (mean difference -53 ms, 95% CI -67, -39), followed by left bundle branch pacing (mean difference -46 ms, 95% CI -60, -33) and biventricular pacing (mean difference -19 ms, 95% CI -37, -1.8), when compared to conventional right ventricle apical lead placement. Conclusion: Our network meta-analysis found that His bundle branch pacing devices have the greatest effect on QRS duration reduction after implantation, followed by left bundle branch pacing. Physiologic pacing interventions result in improved electrocardiography markers of cardiac synchronicity, narrower QRS duration, and might lower electromechanical dyssynchrony.