Biventricular pacing: impact on exercise-induced increases in mitral insufficiency in patients with chronic heart failure.

Introduction: Mitral regurgitation (MR) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients frequently worsens with exercise. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces MR at rest, but its effects on exercise-induced worsening of MR are incompletely explored. The present study examined the influence of CRT on MR during submaximal exercise in CHF patients.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: an option for inotrope-supported patients with end-stage heart failure?

Background: Patients with refractory heart failure requiring inotropic support have a very poor prognosis. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) offers symptomatic and possibly a survival benefit for patients with stable chronic heart failure (CHF) and a prolonged QRS, but its role in the management of end-stage heart failure requiring inotropic support has not been evaluated.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of patients undergoing CRT at our institution.