Quadripolar pacing system for cardiac resynchronisation therapy brings new hope for patients with heart failure. In the device therapy space,Quadripolar Pacing System offers physicians the ability to more effectively and efficiently manage the ever-changing pacing needs of patients with heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the bodys demands. Heart failure is usually caused by dysfunction in the pumping action of the heart due to the inability of the ventricles (the main pumping chambers) to contract or relax properly. The underlying cause for this condition in at least 50 percent of the cases is caused coronary artery disease. Another common cause is high blood pressure,in which increased arterial pressure overexerts the heart. Heart failure,initially,is treated first with changes in lifestyle and a combination of drugs,which tend to be more effective when the disease is in its earlier stages. When these treatments are no longer able to effectively manage Heart failures,other procedures are required,i.e. stenting,balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery,Device Therapy and Heart transplant. The quadripolar technology integrates multiple pacing configurations and has certain features that will enable physicians to optimize the system at implant and throughout the life of patients,and help doctors to better manage the common complications without having to expose the patient to additional surgeries, said Dr T S Kler,Director of Cardiac Cath Lab & Cardiac Arrhythmia Services & at Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre,New Delhi. St Jude Medical,a medical device firm recently announced the launch of quadripolar pacing system for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) in India. The Promote Quadra device incorporates a narrow shape allowing for smaller incisions and surgical scars. Promote Quadra cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) works with Quartet left ventricular pacing lead. The lead uses quadripolar technology which features four electrodes instead of the usual two,allowing for multiple pacing configurations to better manage pacing complications such as diaphragmatic pacing and potentially thwarting the need for repeat procedures for lead adjustments. Common pacing complications that can occur in patients implanted with a CRT include high pacing thresholds and unintentional phrenic nerve or diaphragmatic stimulation. The quadripolar pacing electrodes help physicians in pacing around scar tissue in the heart and avoid most commonly occurring pacing complications and will also be helpful in arresting pacing failures," says Dr Anil Saxena,Associate Director of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology,Escorts Heart Institute. LV lead positioning can be challenging due to variations in patient anatomy and surgical lead revisions are time-consuming and often associated with pocket re-entry risks such as infection. The ability to electronically change an electrode combination with the quadripolar lead will help in limiting such infections,said Dr Aparna Jaswal,senior consultant,Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology,Escorts Heart Institute.
