Cardiac resynchronization therapy: a new therapy for advanced congestive heart failure.
Despite medical therapy, many patients with advanced systolic dysfunction remain highly symptomatic. In these patients the presence of a left bundle branch block on electrocardiogram indicates significant dyssynchrony of ventricular contraction. Cardiac resynchronization, by means of biventricular pacing, results in important clinical benefits. Due to the risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias, this technology is best combined with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Ott
Peter
P
Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory, Section of Cardiology, Sarver Heart Center, University Medical Center, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. ottp@u.arizona.edu
D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection