Biventricular pacing in heart failure: a review.
Biventricular pacing has been an exciting recent advance in the management of drug-refractory heart failure. This new therapy has evolved as much from necessity as scientific observation, since benefits derived from pharmacotherapy currently appear to have reached their peak. Clinical trials of biventricular pacing are establishing morbidity and mortality benefits in heart failure. New challenges in the use of these pacemakers are now arising. These include the accurate diagnosis of ventricular dyssynchrony and, hence, potential responders to the refinement of implantation of the left ventricular lead to the appropriate dyssynchronous ventricular area and optimization of pacemaker programming. This review gives a general overview of the principles and the current evidence for the use of biventricular pacemakers in the treatment of heart failure. In addition, a discussion of current research and future projects is included.
Gould
Paul A
PA
Wynn Department of Metabolic Cardiology, Baker Heart Research Institute, PO Box 6492, Melbourne, Victoria 8008, Australia. drpgould@gmail.com
Mariani
Justin A
JA
Kaye
David M
DM
D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000639:trends; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans