2012 EHRA/HRS expert consensus statement on cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure: implant and follow-up recommendations and managementA registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and the Heart Rhythm Society; and in collaboration with the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), the American Heart Association (AHA), the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE) of the ESC and the Heart Failure Association of the ESC (HFA).Endorsed by the governing bodies of AHA, ASE, EAE, HFSA, HFA, EHRA, and HRS

Abstract

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is one of the most successful heart failure therapies to emerge in the last 25 years and is applicable to ∼25–30% of patients with symptomatic heart failure. Since initial approval of the therapy over 10 years ago, there have been hundreds of thousands of implants worldwide. Regulatory approval, largely based on controlled clinical trials, defines a much narrower population of patients for CRT than the patients that are currently implanted with CRT devices. Expert consensus guidelines provide direction as to the population of patients most expected to benefit from CRT, based on the findings, design, and size of prior studies. Updates to indications for CRT are expected in this calendar year and are not the focus of this document.^1–5