Heart Specialist

Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT)

Normally, when a weakened heart tries to compensate for increased necessities resulting from cardiac diseases, it is forced to pump more strongly. As a result, the heart muscle enlarges, in addition to growing thicker and stronger. Changes in cardiac structure result into inability of left and right halves of heart to contract in a coordinated manner.

The heart muscle gradually shrinks and creates a connective tissue that delays conduction of electrical excitations as a result of the rhythm disturbances.  In instances where the heartbeat gets irregular in some instances, the heart’s’ pumping ability reduces and so does the supply of blood and oxygen to other parts of the body.

Existing researches reveal that more than a third of cardiac failure patients are faced with either rapid or lowered cardiac rhythm disturbances. Private ECG examinations are often used to display a broadened curve complex as well as an altered curve shape that are diagnosed by medical practitioners as left bundle branch block.

The condition also results when the left ventricle does fails to contract with sufficient pace or coordination. A number of regions of left ventricle might complete contraction process, while leaving others areas which might not have even started contracting. These non-uniform contractions of heart chambers result into blood’s swinging motion in heart chambers and reduce pumping ability of heart and hence output.

Patients suffering from disturbed stimulus conduction largely benefits from cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) system installation. The CRT system harmonizes interaction of both heart chambers through constant delivery of electrical pulses. The heart as a result no longer controls pumping motion of its chambers. This process is handed over to an artificially controlled CRT device. The regulated interaction of heart chambers allow them to contract synchronously and hence enhance the heart’s pumping.

CRT System Implantation

CRT system implantation follows a process similar to installation of a pacemaker or a defibrillator. The procedure is undertaken under local anaesthesia or in some instances, general anaesthesia. This CRT device is inserted via a tiny incision on the body’s left side. The doctor inserts three thin, insulated lead cables from the collarbone to the patient’s heart via a punctured vein. An X-ray screen is used to guide its positioning.

Components of a CRT system

A cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) system is made up of a pulse generator that has a circuit and a battery for power and three leads. CRT devices that have an integrated defibrillator function further contain a capacitor that charges shock energy. The lead links the implanted device to right atrium and both heart chambers. They are used to record cardiac rhythm and regulate the pumping action.

In some cases, the CRT devices are present alongside a defibrillator function (CRT-D) or a pacemaker function (CRT-P) based on whether the patient’s heart beats is faster or slower. Most of congestive heart failure patients are faced with excessively faster rhythm disturbances and hence face increased risk of dying from unexpected cardiac death. Such patients need specialised attention and fast treatment.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Please call 01283 755556 or enter your details below & a brief summary of the problem & convenient days & times for you to see Dr Gill privately.
Patients can be seen in The Burton Clinic, Nuffield Hospital Derby & Spire Hospitals in Little Aston and Solihull.

How to contact me

You can contact me directly via this website, by email at aftabgill@private-cardiologist.com or by contacting one of my secretaries below.

Private Secretary: Emma Cope

01283755556
admin@private-cardiologist.com

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