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What is Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)?
Heart failure is the result of a damaged heart muscle. A heart with damaged muscle is a less effective pump resulting in a reduced ability to supply oxygen to meet the needs of the body and brain.
Selected patients with moderate to severe heart failure may benefit from Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). CRT, in combination with stable optimal medical therapy, may help the lower chambers of the heart beat together and improve the heart's ability to supply blood and oxygen to the body. CRT is designed to help the two lower heart chambers, the right and left ventricles, beat at the same time in a normal sequence treating ventricular dysynchrony.
CRT is similar to a pacemaker. It is placed (implanted) under the skin of the upper chest. CRT is delivered as tiny electrical pulses to the right and left ventricles through three or four leads (soft insulated wires) that are inserted through the veins to the heart. These tiny impulses are small and not normally detected by the individual. Note the diagram to the right.
CRT may be prescribed for someone suffering from heart failure, but it is not a replacement for drug therapy. It is recommended that anyone choosing to receive CRT continue taking medications as prescribed by their physician.
What is Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) plus ICD Therapy?
Heart failure is the result of damaged heart muscle. A heart with damaged muscle is a less effective pump resulting in reduced ability to supply oxygen to meet the needs of the body and brain.
Some individuals with a damaged heart muscle are also at high risk for dangerously fast and life threatening heart rhythms, Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) and Ventricular Fibrillation (VF). Patients with heart failure who are also at high risk for VT and VF may require a CRT system that includes implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. The CRT plus ICD system is designed to help the two lower heart chambers, the right and left ventricles, beat at the same time in a normal sequence treating ventricular dysynchrony. Additionally, should an individual experience an episode of VT or VF, the system will detect the life-threatening arrhythmia and automatically correct the heart's rhythm.
Medtronic CRT plus ICD systems
Medtronic has a number of devices that combine Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) therapies to treat both ventricular dysynchrony and ventricular arrhythmias. These systems also offer extensive diagnostic and programming features to help your physician monitor and treat your condition.
Meet Josephine and see how CRT plus ICD has improved her quality of life.