Optimizing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: an Update on New Insights and Advancements.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on the current advancements in optimizing patient response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

RECENT FINDINGS: It has been well known that not every patient will derive benefit from CRT, and of those that do, there are varying levels of response. Optimizing CRT begins well before device implant and involves appropriate patient selection and an understanding of the underlying substrate. After implant, there are different CRT device programming options that can be enabled to help overcome barriers as to why a patient may not respond. Given the multifaceted components of optimizing CRT and the complex patient population, multi-subspecialty clinics have been developed bringing together specialists in heart failure, electrophysiology, and imaging. Data as to whether this results in better response rates and outcomes shows promise.