title: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: An Overview on Guidelines.
abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is included in international consensus guidelines as a treatment with proven efficacy in well-selected patients on top of optimal medical therapy. Although all the guidelines strongly recommend CRT for LBBB with QRS duration greater than 150 milliseconds, lower strength of recommendation is reported for QRS duration of 120 to 150 milliseconds, especially if not associated with LBBB. CRT is not recommended for a QRS of less than 120 milliseconds. No indication emerges for guiding the implant based on echocardiographic evaluation of dyssynchrony. Many data indicate that CRT is underused and there is heterogeneity in its implementation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Via Giuseppe Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.boriani@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boriani
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology and Pacing Centre, Heart and Vessels Department, University of Firenze, Largo Brambilla 3, Firenze 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nesti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Via Giuseppe Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziacchi
authors.affiliation: Specialty School in Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Firenze, Largo Brambilla 3, Firenze 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padeletti
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000592:standards; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D038622:Internationality; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Bundle branch block; Cardiac resynchronization therapy; Guidelines; Heart failure; QRS interval