Computational Modelling Enabling In Silico Trials for Cardiac Physiologic Pacing

Conduction system pacing (CSP) has the potential to achieve physiological-paced activation by pacing the ventricular conduction system. Before CSP is adopted in standard clinical practice, large, randomised, and multi-centre trials are required to investigate CSP safety and efficacy compared to standard biventricular pacing (BVP). Furthermore, there are unanswered questions about pacing thresholds required to achieve optimal pacing delivery while preventing device battery draining, and about which patient groups are more likely to benefit from CSP rather than BVP. In silico studies have been increasingly used to investigate mechanisms underlying changes in cardiac function in response to pathologies and treatment. In the context of CSP, they have been used to improve our understanding of conduction system capture to optimise CSP delivery and battery life, and noninvasively compare different pacing methods on different patient groups. In this review, we discuss the in silico studies published to date investigating different aspects of CSP delivery.

Automated summary

Conduction system pacing (CSP) is a method that can achieve physiological activation by pacing the ventricular conduction system. In order to adopt CSP in standard clinical practice, large trials comparing its safety and efficacy with standard biventricular pacing (BVP) are needed, as well as addressing unanswered questions about pacing thresholds and patient selection. In silico studies have been used to improve our understanding of CSP and compare different pacing methods on different patient groups.