What Is Ventricular Dysynchrony, What Effect Does It Have On Heart Failure, And How Is It Diagnosed/Treated?

Dr. Hunter Champion answers the question: 'What Is Ventricular Dysynchrony?'

ByABC News
November 19, 2008, 5:48 PM

— -- Question: What is ventricular dysynchrony, what effect does it have on heart failure, and how is it diagnosed/treated?

Answer: Ventricular dysynchrony is something that often happens in patients who have heart failure. It is essentially the inability of the heart to beat in a coordinated fashion. This can be remedied in many cases using cardiac resynchronization therapy. This is simply a pacemaker that helps force the heart to beat in a coordinated manner. The advantages of having cardiac resynchronization therapy -- or CRT -- are that the patient can feel better, less shortness of breath, and can potentially walk farther.