简介:Over20yearsofresearchhasledtothenowwidelyacceptedroleofcardiacresynchronizationtherapy(CRT)inmedicallyrefractory,mildtoseveresystolicheartfailure(HF)withincreasedQRSduration.Inadditiontoconferringamortalitybenefit,CRThasbeenshowntoreduceHFhospitalizationratesandimprovefunctionalstatusinthispopulation.However,notallpatientsconsistentlydemonstrateapositiveresponsetoCRT.EffortstoimproveresponsetoCRThavefocusedonimprovingpatientselectionandoptimizingdeviceimplantationandfollow-up,therebycorrectingelectricalandmechanicaldyssynchrony.Inthisarticlewereviewthepathobiologyofcardiacdyssynchrony,therationalefortheuseofCRT,thehistoryandthestateoftheartofCRT,andguidelinesandrecommendationsforCRT,whilealsofocusingontheareasofcontroversyandpotentialfutureapplications.