Selecting Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Strategy for Left Bundle Branch Block at Different Levels: In Silico Comparative Study

Lev Malishevskii1, Arsenii Dokuchaev2, Stepan Zubarev3, Dmitry Lebedev1, Olga Solovyova4
1Almazov National Medical Research Centre, 2XSpline s.p.a, 3Almazov National Medical Research Center, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Institute Of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia; Xspline S.p.a, Bolzano, Italy, 4Institute of Immunology and Physiology UrB RAS


Abstract

This pilot in silico study compares the effects of novel cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) strategies, including His bundle pacing (HBP), left bundle branch pacing (LBBP), and combined optimized therapies (HOT-CRT and LOT-CRT), in treating proximal and distal left bundle branch block (LBBB). Using a detailed computational heart model based on the clinical data from a patient (ECG and cardiac computed tomography (CT)), we reproduced specific anatomical and electrical characteristics to simulate different LBBB types and several CRT strategies. Over 100 computational experiments were performed to assess the impact of each CRT technique on cardiac electrical activity, focusing on ventricular activation times and electrical uncoupling. Our results indicate a variable efficacy of CRT modalities depending on the location of the conduction block. Specifically, HBP and HOT-CRT were most effective for proximal LBBB, whereas LBBP and LOT-CRT showed significant benefits in distal LBBB. Conversely, BiV-CRT showed consistent efficacy in both proximal and distal LBBB. This in silico method provides a promising avenue for refining therapeutic interventions in a patient-specific manner, potentially improving both diagnostic accuracy and outcomes in CRT and CSP.