Objective: To assess the feasibility and longterm outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with impaired left ventricular function (LVEF <35%), left bundle branch block (QRS >120 ms) and dyspnoea NYHA 0 III at a single centre.
Methods and results: Forty-seven patients were referred for implantation of a CRT device. In only 4 patients (9%) the device could not be implanted due to technical problems during the procedure. In the remaining 43 patients (65 +/- 10 years; 7 female) a CRT device was implanted. Follow-up time was 12 +/- 10 months. Twenty-one patients had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 22 patients had coronary artery disease (CAD). NYHA functional class improved from 3.0 +/- 1.4 to 2.5 +/- 0.7 (p <0.0001), accompanied by an improvement of LVEF [median 20% (range 15-25) vs 32% (range 20-40); p <0.0001]. A significant reduction of hospitalisation time for heart failure was found when the year before and the year after device implantation [18 days (range 5-27) vs 1 day (range 0-3); p <0.0001] were compared. Twelve (28%) patients, 9 with CAD, and 3 with DCM died. Two CAD patients and all patients with DCM who died had a combined CRT device with implantable cardioverter/defibrillator.
Conclusion: In patients with severely impaired LVEF and wide QRS due to LBBB, CRT is feasible and safe. It improved dyspnoea and LVEF and reduced hospitalisation stays for heart failure during long-term follow-up.