Cardiac Resyncronization Therapy (CRT)

Cardiac Resyncronization Therapy (CRT) – More than 22 million people worldwide suffer from congestive heart failure (CHF), a potentially debilitating disease. Until recently, lifestyle changes, medication, and sometimes heart surgery were the only treatment options. Patients with severe symptoms, however, received little relief from such approaches. To make matters worse, up to 40 percent of patients with CHF also have an arrhythmia that further reduces the heart’s ability to beat properly.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an innovative new therapy that can relieve CHF symptoms by improving the coordination of the heart’s contractions. CRT builds on the technology used in pacemakers and implantable cardioverter devices. CRT devices also can protect the patient from slow and fast heart rhythms.

Left and Right Bundle Branch Blocks

When there is a delay in electrical signal transmission through the left bundle branch, this causes the left bundle branch block (LBBB). Because the electrical signal to the left ventricle is delayed, the right ventricle begins to contract a fraction of a second before the left ventricle, instead of simultaneously. The result is an asynchronous or uncoordinated contraction of the ventricles and a mistiming in the contractive pattern of the left atrium and ventricle. Other conduction abnormalities, such as the right bundle branch block (RBBB) also may contribute to less efficient contraction of the heart. This further reduces the pumping ability of the already weakened muscle.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Process

The concept behind CRT is quite simple. Resynchronization restores the normal coordinated pumping action of the ventricles by overcoming the delay in electrical conduction caused by bundle branch block. This is accomplished by means of a special type of cardiac device. These powerful, “built-in” devices have enormous potential to improve the quality of life and probably survival for patients with heart failure.

The CRT Device

Pacemakers are typically used to prevent symptoms due to an excessively slow heartbeat. The pacemaker continuously monitors the heartbeat and, when necessary, delivers tiny, imperceptible electrical signals to stimulate the heartbeat. Most pacemakers have two electrode wires, or leads, one in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle. This ensures the pacemaker will maintain the normal coordinated pumping relationship between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The wires that carry the electrical signals connect to an electrical pulse generator placed under the skin in the upper chest. In addition to the two leads (right atrium and right ventricle) used by a common pacemaker, the CRT device has a third lead that is positioned in a vein on the surface of the left ventricle. This allows the CRT device to simultaneously stimulate the left and right ventricles and restore a coordinated, or “synchronous”, squeezing pattern. This is sometimes referred to as “bi-ventricular pacing” because both ventricles are electrically stimulated (paced) at the same time. This reduces the electrical delay and results in a more coordinated and effective heartbeat.