Resynchronization Therapy for Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: Are We Ready for Prime Time?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to summarize and provide an update of evidence for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease (CHD).

RECENT FINDINGS

CRT is a valuable tool in the treatment of heart failure in the setting of CHD. Current evidence points toward the ability of this therapy to increase hemodynamic parameters and reduce heart failure-related symptoms. Within the CHD population, patients with systemic left ventricles appear to benefit the most from CRT. Utilization of CRT in CHD has been technically difficult due to the complexity and variety of anatomic substrates. However, lateral thoracotomies and other advances have made implantation more feasible. The most up-to-date evidence continues to support the use of CRT in the heterogeneous population of CHD with careful and individualized patient selection. Further studies are needed to evaluate the utility of CRT for specific anatomic substrates within this population.