title: [Ventricular cardiac resynchronization--initial surgical experience].
abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a recent method for patients with myocardial failure resulting from systolic malfunction. CTR is achieved by simultaneous stimulation of both ventricles which resynchronizes the time of depolarization of the left ventricle and improves myocardial contractility, diminishing mitral regurgitation. Usually the TCR is applied percutaneously/transvenously but in some cases it is impossible to use such techniques due to several reasons. The authors of this article suggest the minithoracotomy as an alternative approach of the left ventricle for implantation of the epicardic electrode. This technique has proven to be simple and safe, allowing short implantation times in comparison with the traditional technique, as well as a better choice of the site of electrode implantation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Cirurgia Torácica, Hospital de S. João, Porto.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanfins
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chaves
mesh_terms: D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans