Cardiac resynchronization therapy 101

ardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective reatment for heart failure (HF) for patients who still have ignificant symptoms despite optimal medical therapy. any patients with HF have interventricular and intravenricular conduction delays that cause delayed activation of he lateral wall of the left ventricle (LV). This delayed ctivation leads to ventricular dyssynchrony, which comproises diastolic filling time, decreases LV ejection fraction, nd worsens mitral regurgitation and ventricular dilation. y placing a lead through the coronary sinus to a lateral or osterolateral branch, the LV can be paced simultaneously r near-simultaneously with pacing from the right ventricle, eading to resynchronization of the ventricles. New York eart Association functional class, exercise tolerance, qualty of life, and LV ejection fraction have all been shown to mprove with CRT (1–4).