Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and Cardiac Contractility Modulation in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure: How to Select the Right Candidate?

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a well-established treatment of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and a wide QRS complex. Cardiac contractility modulation therapy is an emerging electrical treatment indicated for use in patients with symptomatic heart failure caused by moderate-to-severe systolic left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction ranging from 25% to 45%), with no indication for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Cardiac contractility modulation therapy improves functional status, exercise capacity, quality of life, and possibly prevents hospital admissions in indicated patients. An algorithm for patient selection for these two forms of electrical therapy for heart failure is presented.