Cardiac resynchronization therapy: state of the art 2013

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is currently an established device therapy for heart failure (HF) patients. Cumulated knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms, implantation techniques, advancement of device-based technologies, and clinical trial experience has impacted on this evolving therapy significantly in the last few years. This article will address the updated CRT guideline and potentially new indications of CRT such as patients with New York Heart Association Class I, normal QRS duration, and non-HF patients with pacing indications. Furthermore, important but unresolved issues will also be discussed which include the impact of QRS morphology and QRS duration on CRT response, new approaches for placement of left ventricular (LV) lead, multisite LV pacing, and the role of HF disease monitoring program.