Basic Science of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Basic science of cardiac resynchronization therapy: molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms.

Cardiac-resynchronization therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) addresses abnormal left ventricular (LV) activation that produces detrimental effects on cardiac systolic and diastolic function. CRT improves symptoms and ventricular performance, promotes reverse remodeling, and decreases mortality and hospitalization in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Atrial-synchronized biventricular stimulation reverses...

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

According to the 2013 update on heart disease statistics from American Heart Association, an estimated 5.1 million Americans ≥20 years of age have a diagnosis of heart failure. In the year 2009, heart failure was noted to be the primary cause of death in >56 000 people and contributed to death of >274 000 people. It is one of the most common causes of hospitalization in patients ≥65 years of ag...

[Cardiac resynchronization therapy].

Fifteen years after the birth of resynchronization therapy, this technique has become one of the recommended treatments in severe heart failure patients, with low ejection fraction (4 35%), and conduction disorders (ORS > or = 120 ms). Based on large randomized clinical trials, the European recommendation is class I type (level of evidence A), to improve symptoms and survival of this patient po...

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

In this issue of the Journal, Giraldi et al. (1) compare transvenous and epicardial lead placement in patients with unfavorable coronary sinus anatomy. Patients who met standard criteria for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) including left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, New York Heart Association class III to IV congestive heart failure, and left bundle branch block, who were on optimal me...