[Cardiac resynchronization therapy in severe congestive heart failure].

BACKGROUND

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established method for treatment of patients with severe congestive heart failure and asynchronous left ventricular contraction. Its clinical and haemodynamic benefits are well documented. We have retrospectively reviewed CRT performed at our centre.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our department treated 150 patients with CRT according to accepted indications from 1999-2006. The patients were observed for two years and one third reached two-year follow-up. We reviewed operative complications, lead re-implantations, clinical benefits, pacing thresholds, electrogram amplitudes and lead impedance..

RESULTS

There were 20% lead re-implantations after two years of follow-up and a significant improvement in NYHA functional capacity. For the coronary venous lead the average stimulation threshold was stable at 1.2-1.3 V at 0.5 ms, the sensing electrogram amplitude was 10-18 mV and the impedance was 600 ohm at 5.0 V during follow-up. Similar stable electrophysiological values were measured for the right ventricular lead and the atrial lead.

INTERPRETATION

There were in general few peroperative complications. All implanted leads in CRT showed stable- and low threshold values during a two-year follow-up period.