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Intermediate Technical IVT

biventricular pacing

Cardiac resynchronization therapy using leads in both ventricles to coordinate ventricular contraction in heart failure patients.

Full Definition

Biventricular pacing, also known as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), involves simultaneous pacing of both the right and left ventricles to improve mechanical synchrony in patients with heart failure and electrical conduction delays. The therapy requires leads placed in the right ventricle and left ventricle (typically via the coronary sinus), along with an atrial lead. Biventricular pacing can improve symptoms, exercise capacity, and survival in appropriately selected heart failure patients with wide QRS complexes.

Usage

Usage note: Synonymous with CRT. Requires specialized left ventricular lead placement via coronary sinus.

In Context

  • "Biventricular pacing improved the patient's ejection fraction from 25% to 40% at six months." — CRT follow-up report
  • "The device was programmed for optimized biventricular pacing with AV delay of 120ms." — Device programming note

Also known as

cardiac resynchronization therapy CRT pacing

Contrasted with

single-chamber pacing dual-chamber pacing

Don't confuse with

dual-chamber pacing multisite pacing
bidirectional VT ← Back to glossary bradyarrhythmia

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