title: Cardiac resynchronization therapy: what? Who? When? How?
abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is an important and underused tool to help patients with heart failure symptoms, left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF≤35%), and intraventricular conduction system disease (QRS≥120 msec). Cardiac resynchronization therapy paces the heart simultaneously from both right and left ventricles (through the coronary sinus). Approximately three quarters of patients who undergo a successful implant will have some degree of symptomatic improvement and have fewer heart failure hospitalizations. When cardiac resynchronization therapy is combined with a defibrillator, patients may benefit from the added protection against sudden arrhythmic death.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. pcuculic@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Phillip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cuculich
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000628:therapy*; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*