Current role of echocardiography in cardiac resynchronization therapy
Donato Mele1,2, Matteo Bertini3, Michele Malagù3
1Centro Cardiologico Universitario and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. donatomele@libero.it.
Insights
Echocardiography is a safe, non-invasive tool crucial for assessing patients before, during, and after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This imaging technique guides device optimization and patient follow-up in heart failure management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a key treatment for heart failure with systolic dysfunction.
- Echocardiography is vital for assessing cardiac dyssynchrony and guiding CRT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current evidence on echocardiography's role in CRT.
- To highlight echocardiography's utility before, during, and after CRT implantation.
Main Methods:
- Review of current evidence on echocardiography in CRT.
- Focus on echocardiography's applications in patient assessment and device management.
Main Results:
- Echocardiography provides essential anatomical and functional data for CRT.
- It aids in dyssynchrony assessment, prognostication, and optimal pacing site identification.
- Echocardiography is non-invasive, repeatable, and safe, avoiding radiation and nephrotoxic contrast.
Conclusions:
- Echocardiography is indispensable throughout the CRT process.
- Its safety and comprehensive data make it superior to other imaging modalities for CRT guidance.
Abstract:
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Patients are usually assessed by echocardiography, which provides a number of anatomical and functional information used for cardiac dyssynchrony assessment, prognostic stratification, identification of the optimal site of pacing in the left ventricle, optimization of the CRT device, and patient follow-up. Compared to other cardiac imaging techniques, echocardiography has the advantage to be non-invasive, repeatable, and safe, without exposure to ionizing radiation or nefrotoxic contrast. In this article, we review current evidence about the role of echocardiography before, during, and after the implantation of a CRT device.
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