Treatment Options for Congestive Heart Failure

Implantable Device Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure

Most people with congestive heart failure (CHF) can be managed effectively with medications, however, some patients may require treatment with certain implantable devices to control CHF. Implantable devices that may be used in select patients with CHF include:

• Cardiac pacemakers - usually used in patients with "sick sinus syndrome" - a term used for several conditions where the sinus node , the "natural pacemaker of the heart", does not function properly causing an irregular heart rate (i.e., either too slow or too fast).

• Biventricular pacing - Also known as cardiac resynchronization therapy , biventricular pacing involves the insertion of a pacemaker wire into both the right and left ventricles to cause these two heart chambers to beat synchronously. Biventricular pacing is an option for patients with CHF who have a condition known as "left bundle branch block" or an intraventricular conduction abnormality that causes the ventricles to beat "out of synch". Studies have shown that biventricular pacing can help many patients with advanced CHF to better control their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

• Implantable cardiverter defibrillators (ICDs) - These devices are now standard of care for the management of CHF in patients with a low ejection fraction (less than 35%) caused by either coronary disease or cardiomyopathy. ICDs are also used for patients who are at high risk for developing ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.