Right Ventricular Lead Ring Capture in Sequential Biventricular Pacing with Pseudo-bipolar Left Ventricular Lead Configuration: an Unwanted Effect

We report here on three patients who underwent biventricular pacing (BVP) for severe heart failure and the problems encountered with pseudo-bipolar left ventricular (LV) lead configuration. With this configuration, right ventricular anode capture with simultaneous biventricular stimulation was noted at higher output during the isolated LV pacing mode in these patients, which forced us to program the LV pacing to unipolar configuration in one patient. The implication of this phenomenon in sequential BVP therapy is discussed. (Chang Gung Med J 2007;30:178-83) Key words: heart failure, sequential biventricular pacing, left ventricle, pseudo-bipolar configura