Cardiac Resynchronisation

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is a new form of treatment for severe heart failure. CRT has been shown to reduce the symptoms of heart failure and improve outlook in selected recipients.

CRT is performed using a special form of pacemaker known as a bi-ventricular pacemaker. This device is implanted during a small surgical procedure under the skin beneath the collarbone. Electrical cables run from the device to the heart to stimulate it to beat more strongly and in a more coordinated manner.

Patients in whom a CRT device is indicted are often also prone to abnormally fast heart rhythms that can be dangerous and gives rise to sudden death. Therefore, most patients will receive a CRT device that incorporates defibrillator functions (known as CRT-D). Sometimes your doctor may consider this feature not appropriate for you and will discuss this with you. In this case you will receive only a CRT pacemaker (known as CRT-P).