Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41955579›Full record

Observational studyEuropace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology2026

Adverse outcomes due to atrioventricular synchrony loss induced by temporary VVI pacing in patients with pre-existing DDD stimulation: insights from a device recall scenario.

Cristian Martignani, Giulia Massaro, Alberto Spadotto, Lorenzo Bartoli, Andrea Angeletti, Matteo Ziacchi, Igor Diemberger, Mauro Biffi

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Cristian MartignaniCardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8774-2127
Giulia MassaroCardiology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1227-5787
Alberto SpadottoCardiology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8452-7405
Lorenzo BartoliCardiology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8437-0222
Andrea AngelettiCardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-1484-1886
Matteo ZiacchiCardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3617-2739
Igor DiembergerCardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3823-3809
Mauro BiffiCardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4590-8584

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTemporary reprogramming of dual-chamber (DDD) pacemakers to non-synchronous ventricular modes (VVI/VVIR) may be required in selected clinical scenarios, but short-term consequences of abrupt atrioventricular (AV) synchrony loss remain incompletely characterized.Leveraging a unique natural experiment, this study aimed to quantify the clinical and echocardiographic consequences of temporary VVI/VVIR pacing in patients in sinus rhythm chronically adapted to DDD stimulation. METHODS AND

resultsIn this prospective observational study, 93 patients (79.9 ± 16.0 years; 63.4% AV block) with recalled DDD pacemakers were reprogrammed to VVI/VVIR for 6 months, followed by DDD restoration. Serial assessments included echocardiography, BNP, and 6-min walk test. Primary endpoints were changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations; secondary endpoints included echocardiographic remodelling parameters, functional capacity, quality of life, and atrial fibrillation. Clinical events were tracked for 12 months. Ventricular pacing remained >88% throughout. During the VVI/VVIR period, HF hospitalizations increased compared with the subsequent DDD restoration period (22.6% vs. 6.7%, P < 0.001). This was accompanied by adverse echocardiographic remodelling, a decline in LVEF from 57.3% to 53.0% (P < 0.001), and a marked BNP increase from 155 to 260 pg/mL (P < 0.001). After DDD restoration, clinical and structural recovery was incomplete: LVEF improved to 54.8% and BNP decreased to 210 pg/mL, but both remained significantly worse than baseline (P < 0.05).

conclusionTemporary loss of AV synchrony in chronically DDD-paced patients was associated with rapid, severe, and only partially reversible clinical and echocardiographic deterioration. These findings underscore that continuous AV synchrony is a critical determinant of clinical stability.

Indexed as

Atrioventricular BlockAtrioventricular NodeCardiac Pacing, ArtificialHeart FailurePacemaker, ArtificialAgedAged, 80 and overAtrial FibrillationEchocardiographyFemaleHospitalizationHumansMaleMiddle AgedNatriuretic Peptide, BrainProspective StudiesNatriuretic Peptide, BrainAtrial FibrillationAtrioventricular synchronyCardiac RemodellingDevice RecallHeart FailurePacemaker

Identifiers

PMID41955579
PMCPMC13128680

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.