CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals in Utah, including Jordan Valley, West Valley, and Mountain Point locations, announced on March 30 the implementation of Left Bundle Branch Pacing (LBBP) as part of their cardiac care services.
The introduction of LBBP aims to provide patients with a more physiological and potentially life-improving alternative to traditional pacemaker methods. This development is significant because it seeks to reduce the risk of heart failure that can be associated with older pacing technologies.
Pacemakers are used when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and leads to a slow heartbeat. While traditional devices have saved lives for decades, some patients may experience negative effects over time due to how these devices deliver electrical impulses. The new LBBP technique places the pacemaker lead into the heart’s septum near the left bundle branch, allowing electrical impulses that closely resemble natural heart activity and minimize stress on the organ.
Dr. Konstantyn Szwajkun, an interventional cardiologist with CommonSpirit in Utah who began performing this procedure earlier this year, said: “For certain types of patients, this is quickly becoming the best option for managing cardiovascular pacing issues.”
Medical studies over recent years have shown that LBBP offers more physiological ventricular activation and improved hemodynamic parameters compared to traditional right ventricular pacing. It has also been linked to a lower risk of pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy as well as better left ventricular ejection fraction and stress tolerance.
An estimated 2-3% of adults aged 75 and older require pacemakers. For these individuals and others needing pacing support, LBBP represents an important advancement in maintaining long-term heart health.
