Treatment Overview
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) uses a special type of pacemaker called a biventricular pacemaker (say "by-ven-TRICK-yuh-ler") to treat heart failure. This pacemaker sends electrical pulses to make the ventricles pump at the same time.
A biventricular pacemaker is implanted in the chest, and it connects to three thin wires, called leads. The leads go into different chambers of your heart. If there is a problem with your heartbeat, the pacemaker sends a painless signal through the leads to fix the problem. The pacemaker also can speed up your heart if it is beating too slowly.
In some cases, you may get a pacemaker that is combined with a device to shock your heartbeat back to a normal rhythm if it is dangerously fast. The device is called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or ICD. It can prevent sudden death.
Your doctor will put the pacemaker in your chest during minor surgery. You won't have open-chest surgery.
Your doctor makes a small cut (incision) in your chest. The doctor puts the leads in a vein and threads them to the heart. Then the leads are connected to the pacemaker. Your doctor puts the pacemaker in your chest and closes the incision. Your doctor also programs the pacemaker.
