CRT Implantation

CRT is recommended for patients of heart failure with NYHA Class III or IV who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical management, with prolonged QRS and left ventricular heart function below 35%. In patients who need pacemaker for other indications and have heart function less than 50%, they can also be considered for CRT device as well.

Diagnostics

Patients should be thoroughly worked up prior to consideration for  CRT implantation. Routine blood tests are done. ECG is done to document a prolonged QRS duration and a detailed Echocardiogram is done. Heart failure medicines should be fully optimized. Coronary angiography is usually done in most patients to rule out any significant blockages in the heart arteries. Sometimes cardiac MRI may be done to rule out causes of impaired heart functioning.

CRT, as mentioned previously, is done in patients of impaired heart functioning (LVEF less than 35%), whereas, ICD is inserted for patients having history of (or having high risk of) abnormal life threatening heart rhythm in the form of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.

If patients have a high risk of ventricular tachycardia and their heat pumping is low, then may qualify for a combined device of CRT and ICD called CRT D (CRT plus defibrillation). If only CRT is needed it is also called as CRT P (CRT plus only pacing).

Patient and relatives are counselled about the procedure thoroughly including the procedure details, risks and benefits, and subsequently an written informed consent is taken.
Patient is taken to the cath lab. Local anaesthesia is given below the left collar bone. A linear incision is made parallel to the collar bone and a pocket is created between the skin and the muscles of the left chest.

Fluoroscopy or ultrasound guided punctures are taken to enter the subclavian or axillary veins. Cardiac leads are placed under fluoroscopy in the right ventricle (lower chamber), left ventricle via the coronary sinus and also in the right atria (upper chamber). Then a battery is inserted just under the collar bone beneath the skin, where the pocket was made and leads are connected to the same.

Thereafter the device is checked on the table to see if its parameters are adequate. If found satisfactory, the skin is closed with sutures or staplers. Patients are usually observed in the ICU overnight and discharged in 1-2 days post procedure.

Post-procedural Care and Monitoring

Immediate post-implantation care

These patients are shifted to the ICU and X ray of chest is done to see for any injury to the heart or lungs and to see the lead positioning. Antibiotics are also continued for a few days to prevent infections.

Long-term follow-up and device monitoring

CRT insertion patients have to be under lifelong surveillance. At least yearly follow up and device check needs to be done. Heart failure medicines need to be titrated as needed. If patients have new symptoms or observe fever or swelling at the device site, they should immediately see the doctor.

Early Complications

• Infection at the pocket site or on the leads inserted. To treat this usually a course of prolonged antibiotics is needed.
• Heart injury due to lead insertion is occasionally observed in the form of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion). This may be life threatening and may need removal of this fluid or a surgeon may be needed to repair the damage made in the heart due to the lead implantation.
• Lung injury due to a puncture site below the collar bone in the form of pneumothorax (air under the lungs). This may need draining of air from the lung space, if causing difficulty in breathing.
• Subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin) is sometimes also seen. It is usually managed conservatively and only surgeons are called in occasionally to relieve the same.
• Lead displacement can happen in the early weeks of the procedure. To prevent or minimize the chances of it, we ask the patient not to elevate the arm above the shoulders for a month or so.

Late Complications

• Infection on the leads due to some secondary infection in the blood leading to infective endocarditis. This may need lead extraction to take the infective source out of the body along with a prolonged course of antibiotics.
• Battery depletion - this is not a complication, but once the battery runs out, it needs a redo procedure to replace the battery. The leads are not changed and just the old battery is taken out and replaced with a new one.

CRT devices have good evidence of improving the symptoms of the patients. Many patients have improvement in heart function post device insertion. With this not only the quality of life is better, but also the survival rates are improved.

Challenges and Limitations of CRT
Patient selection is paramount in CRT insertion. If indications are not right, the improvement post CRT insertion is questionable. Long term management and device checks are needed for these patients. Cost is also an understandable issue and also the doctors have to be duly qualified to do these procedures to give best possible outcomes and least complication rates.

CRT in Patients with Comorbidities
There are no alarming contraindications for CRT implantation. If the indication fits in and we expect that patients may live for more than a year, we can offer them CRT devices to aid in treating heart failure better in these patients.