title: Role of the old and new echocardiographic technologies in cardiac resynchronization therapy.
abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an important tool for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure, as it can correct the heterogeneity of regional left ventricular mechanical contraction, known as dyssynchrony. Although this therapy is strongly indicated in patients with both heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and wide Q-, R- and S-waves (QRS) on electrocardiogram, about one-third of these patients are non-responders. Since the degree of mechanical dyssynchrony can vary greatly, it is interesting to quantify dyssynchrony by means of imaging methods, such as echocardiography, which might be able to lead to a better selection of CRT candidates. This article will review the role of old and new echocardiographic techniques to predict CRT response.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy - enrico.vizzardi@tin.it.
authors.forename: Ivano
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bonadei
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vizzardi
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorga
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carubelli
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagnoni
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sciatti
authors.forename: Abdallah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raweh
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerini
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bontempi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curnis
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metra
mesh_terms: D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D058409:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans