The contribution of echocardiography in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy

Introduction Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the subject of increased interest in the medical community, because of the high number of affected persons and also with regard to the resulting socio-economic impacts. Understanding the relationship between echocardiography and cardiac resynchronization therapy will allow better identification of potential responders and non-responders, which is very important because of the relatively high costs of this treatment. Objective Based on our own experience and comparison with literature data to evaluate the importance of echocardiography in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods One day before implantation, and at 3 and 15 months after implantation, we assessed: NYHA class, quality of life (QoL) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). In addition to a standard echocardiography, we assessed the presence of ventricular dyssynchrony and right ventricular (RV) systolic function by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (myocardial peak systolic velocity was measured at the tricuspid annulus). In 40 patients was compared echocardiographic, electrocardiographic and automated approach to optimization of biventricular pacemaker - interventricular delay (VV delay - VVD). Every patient in whom the quality of life, NYHA..