Pacemaker Implantation Versus Cardioneuroablation for Functional Atrioventricular Block

TELE-SPACER trial will enroll a minimum of 100 participants, males and females, 18-75 years old: 1) with indications for elective PM implantation due to atrioventricular block (AVB) according to 2021 ESC guidelines on cardiac pacing; 2) who had positive atropine tests. Participants will be randomized into two groups - either optimized guideline-recommended PM therapy (group A, n=50) or reevaluation for PM therapy after CAT/EPS and experimental procedure CNA (group B, n=50). Participants who will choose to opt-out of randomization will be included in the registry (group C) and will undergo patient-tailored intervention through shared decision-making with a possibility of either PM implantation, CNA or observation only. The registry is expected to include up to 200 participants.

Patient enrollment time is anticipated to last 2 years. Recruitment will take place in four study sites, in two distinct phases. First, the investigators will identify potential participants with AVB and a positive atropine test, confirming significant dependence of heart rhythm and conduction on the vagus nerve (hyperactivity of vagus nerve). Their medical records will be analyzed by the Scientific Committee (symptoms evaluation, physical examination, documentation of AVB). In the second phase eligible participants will be invited by the investigator to participate in the trial during medical consultation. After explanations describing the study protocol, including the risk and benefits, they will sign the written informed consent to participate in the study or will choose to opt-out of randomization to be included in the registry only (group C). Informed consent will be obtained only if it is clear that the patient truly understands the nature of the study. Alternatively, the patient will be encouraged to take a copy of the consent form home to contemplate enrolment in the study. Only participants who voluntarily consent will be included. Participants will be able to withdraw at any time without compromising their medical care.

Paricipants will be randomized in 1:1 allocation to either group A or group B. Randomization will be performed centrally and assigned automatically to each patient via internet. The randomization list will be blocked per center, with randomly varying block sizes of 2 and 4. The centers will not be aware of the block sizes. The PM implantation and treatment allocation will not be blinded to the patient or follow-up physician. Participants in either arm of the study will be followed-up at regular intervals for a minimum of 12 months. During the 12-month study duration, the use of effective contraception will be recommended for women of child-bearing age.

The period of the screening and randomization visit will last from 0 to 7 days, and the qualification for elective PM implantation (group A) or elective loop recorder monitoring/CAT/EPS (group B) and subsequent therapeutic decisions (CNA, DDDR, other treatment based on the test result) from 0 to 4 weeks. Parameter analysis baseline, including ECG telemonitoring, QOL and symptoms, will take place at randomization (0 months), 3, 6 and 12 months. Participants will be assessed using cardiovascular autonomic testing (CAT) with telemedical registration at 6 and 12 months. All measured parameters, as well as demographic and clinical data will be recorded in the study database.

Participants in group A (PM, n = 50) will receive care on the basis of the 2021 ESC Guidelines on Cardiac Pacing Recommendations. They will be implanted with PM (DDD pacemaker or its modification as HBP/LBBAP - His-Purkinje or left bundle branch area pacing) and will be monitored with external ECG recorder (certified medical devices of at least class IIa) with telemonitoring. Group B participants (CNA, n = 50) will be implanted with implantable loop recorder (ILR) device (Biotronik, Biomonitor 3m), also with remote tele-monitoring, with the same thresholds for automatic episode recording. As part of telemonitoring system, all participants will receive in the period before the procedure a dedicated telemonitoring kit consisting of a portable ECG device and a tablet with a sim card for network connection. This telemonitoring kit will enable regular self-testing, symptom reporting and interactive, objective telemedicine consultations. Participants will be provided with 24/7 contact with medical staff in the telemonitoring center specialized in cardiac arrhythmias and implantable device monitoring. The major reason for ECG recording is to provide ECG documentation of clinical AVB, as well as monitoring of participants before and after CNA (or PM implantation, if accepted). In case of severe AVB, the emergency system will always be called.

Participants in group B will be referred for EPS and ECVS (extracardiac vagal nerve stimulation) with the possibility of simultaneous CNA after exclusion of advanced and occult distal AVBs. Once the effectiveness of the CNA is confirmed, the patient will be further monitored. If CNA is not succesful and/or its immediate effectiveness is not confirmed (meeting the ESC criteria for pacemaker implantation after CNA), the patient will be referred for pacemaker implantation and will cross-over into group A.

CNA will be performed in group B under general anesthesia by experienced operators (at least 25 CNA procedures preformed). After EPS, a biatral, binodal, anatomically guided CNA will be performed under ECVS guidance, with a demonstration of the vagal reflex (complete asystole or AVB with atrial pacing) at the onset of the CNA and its complete disappearance after a successful CNA. Additional ablation substrates will also be allowed and performed.

Participants included in the registry (group C) will undergo an individually tailored intervention through shared decision making (SDM) with the option of implantation of PM (subgroup CA), CNA (subgroup CB) or observation only (subgroup C0).

All participants participating in the study and registry will be asked to complete questionnaires on health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L, SF-36), symptoms of bradycardia (VAS), fatigue (MFIS), depression (HADS-M) and sleep (ESS, AIS-8) at 0, 6, 12 months.

The safety of the interventions will be assessed on a monthly basis (telemedicine and standard follow-up visits), with monitoring of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). All events will be resolved by the Central Investigation Safety Committee, which does not include members of the Investigation Steering Committee.