The need for treatment of arrhythmias depends on the symptoms and the seriousness of the arrhythmia. Treatment is directed at causes. If necessary, direct antiarrhythmic therapy, including antiarrhythmic drugs, cardioversion-defibrillation, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), pacemakers (and a special form of pacing, cardiac resynchronization therapy), catheter ablation, surgery, or a combination, is used.
In some patients, the normal, orderly, sequential relationship between contraction of the cardiac chambers is disrupted (becomes dyssynchronous). Dyssynchrony may be
Atrioventricular: Between atrial and ventricular contraction
Interventricular: Between left and right ventricular contraction
Intraventricular: Between different segments of left ventricular contraction
Patients at risk for dyssynchrony include those with the following:
Ischemic or nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy
Prolonged QRS interval (≥ 130 millisecond) particularly in the form of typical left bundle branch block
Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension ≥ 55 mm
Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% in sinus rhythm
Cardiac dyssynchrony can be suspected based on electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters (eg, left bundle branch block) and advanced echocardiography techniques (eg, tissue Doppler index, strain rate).
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) involves use of a cardiac pacing system to resynchronize cardiac contraction. Such systems usually include a right atrial lead, right ventricular lead, and left ventricular lead. Leads may be placed transvenously or surgically via thoracotomy.
In patients with heart failure who have New York Heart Association (see table NYHA classification) class II, III, or IV symptoms, CRT can reduce hospitalization for heart failure and reduce all-cause mortality. However, there is little to no benefit in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, right bundle branch block, nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay, or only mild prolongation of QRS duration (< 150 millisecond).
