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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy
Amit Bhan1, Stamatis Kapetanakis, Mark J Monaghan
1Department of Echocardiography, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Insights
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits many patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Research is ongoing to optimize CRT device settings, like atrioventricular (AV) and ventricular-to-ventricular (VV) delays, to improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.
- A significant portion of patients do not respond optimally to CRT, necessitating further research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of optimizing atrioventricular (AV) and ventricular-to-ventricular (VV) delays in CRT devices.
- To explore methods for improving patient response to CRT through device parameter optimization.
Main Methods:
- Review of contemporary CRT devices with adjustable AV and VV delays.
- Analysis of existing evidence on the hemodynamic effects of optimizing these delays.
- Assessment of current clinical practice regarding delay optimization.
Main Results:
- Optimization of AV and VV delays can positively influence patient hemodynamics.
- Multiple strategies exist for delay optimization, lacking widespread clinical consensus.
- Current clinical practice for incorporating delay optimization into patient management is inconsistent.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols for AV and VV delay optimization in CRT.
- Optimizing device delays holds potential for improving CRT efficacy in non-responders.
- Consensus on best practices for CRT delay optimization is crucial for widespread clinical adoption.
Abstract:
Cardiac resynchronization is now an accepted and widespread therapy for patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, there are still a significant number of patients that do not appear to gain benefit, and this is currently the focus of a great deal of research. Contemporary resynchronization devices allow manipulation of both atrioventricular (AV) and ventricular-to-ventricular (VV) delays and there is evidence that optimization of these delays has a positive effect on hemodynamics. However, there are many ways that optimization can be performed and there is little consensus on how, if at all, it should be incorporated into clinical practice.
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