title: [Only for limited indications. Biventricular pacemaker improves severe heart failure].
abstract: In patients with congestive heart disease in whom left ventricular dilatation is associated with severely disordered contraction due to delayed ventricular conduction, a new form of treatment not requiring drugs is currently becoming established--biventricular pacing. Via an implanted electrode, biventricular stimulation accelerates conduction in the left ventricle and resynchronizes its contraction. Patients being considered for such therapy must have stable stage III disease (NYHA classification) under optimal medication, and a left bundle branch block with a QRS of at least 150 ms. Definitive recommendations with regard to indications will be possible only when current randomized mortality studies have been concluded.
authors.affiliation: Abt. für Kardiologie, Stiftsklinik Augustinum, München.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stange-Budumlu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Götz
mesh_terms: D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D006327:Heart Block / Q000628:therapy*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome