title: Echocardiographic evaluation of patients with severe heart failure and impairment of intraventricular conduction following cardiac resynchronisation therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Echocardiographic examination is essential for clinical assessment of patients after cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the benefit of CRT in patients with end-stage heart failure at long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 patients with end-stage heart failure, NYHA class >or= III (>or= II in patients with indications for implantable cardioverter defibrillator and echocardiographic signs of ventricular mechanical systolic dyssynchrony), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35%, QRS duration >120 ms and left bundle branch block morphology received a biventricular device. Standard colour Doppler echocardiography examination was performed at baseline, and then every 6 months, up to 2 years. Parameters of systolic and diastolic LV function, mitral insufficiency and right ventricular (RV) pressure were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following CRT, a statistically significant improvement of LV dimensions (p<0.05), and LVEF (p<0.001) was recorded. CRT also resulted in a mitral regurgitation decrement (p<0.01). Interventricular mechanical delay was shortened (p=0.0005). After 2 years, non-significant worsening of LV dimensions was observed. At long-term follow-up CRT did not result in LV volume, left atrium, RV dimension or RV pressure reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRT is associated with reverse remodelling of the LV at mid-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Heart Electrotherapy, Medical University, Gdańsk, Poland. anfar@wp.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faran
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabrowska-Kugacka
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewicka-Nowak
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tybura
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zieba
authors.forename: Ludmiła
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daniłowicz-Szymanowicz
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krzymińska-Stasiuk
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kempa
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kogut
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raczak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling