From epidemiological studies, it has been shown that 0.2% of men and 0.1% of women suffer from a degree of
atrioventricular (AV) block. In recent years, the palliative treatment for third degree AV block has included Cardiac
Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). It was found that patients show more clinical improvement in the long term with
CRT compared with single chamber devices. Still, an important group of patients does not improve their hemodynamic
function as much as could be expected. A better understanding of the basis for optimizing the devices settings (among
which the VV delay) will help to increase the number of responders. In this work, a finite element model of the left and
right ventricles was generated using an atlas-based approach for their segmentation, which includes fiber orientation. The
electrical activity was simulated with the electrophysiological solver CARP, using the Ten Tusscher et al. ionic model
for the myocardium, and the DiFrancesco-Noble for Purkinje fibers. The model is representative of a patient without
dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy. The simulation results were analyzed for total activation times and latest activated
regions at different VV delays and pre-activations (RV pre-activated, LV pre-activated). To optimize the solution,
simulations are compared against the His-Purkinje network activation (normal physiological conduction), and
interventricular septum activation (as collision point for the two wave fronts). The results were analyzed using Pearson's
coefficient of correlation for point to point comparisons between simulation cases. The results of this study contribute to
gain insight on the VV delay and how its adjustment might influence response to CRT and how it can be used to
optimize the treatment.
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