Cardiac resynchronization therapy: Selection of candidates

Abstract

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established therapy for patients with heart failure who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment. Guideline recommendations for patient selection have been published by all major scientific societies including the ESC and are regularly updated. Unfortunately, the rate of patients who do not respond to CRT remains stable in the range of 30–40%, even in indication class I. In the selection of patients with heart failure who may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), evaluation of left ventricular mechanics and dyssynchrony, extent, and location of myocardial scar and cardiac venous anatomy are most important. Multimodality imaging is pivotal to obtain this information and understand how CRT exerts its effects. This chapter will review the current state-of-the-art of multimodality imaging to select patients for CRT implantation.