Optimization of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Comparison of Acoustic Cardiography and Echocardiographic Methods for Optimizing the Implanted Cardiac System

Abstract Background: Optimization of the resynchronization system is one of the few elements determining a patient’s response to the implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The aim of this study was to compare two optimization methods of the implanted resynchronization system—acoustic cardiography performed by means of cardiac acoustic sensors and echocardiographic cardiography—and to demonstrate that acoustic cardiography is not worse than the previously used echocardiographic method. Subjects and Methods: This study involved 54 patients (43 males and 11 females) with heart failure who underwent CRT in accordance with the 2010 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. The patients were divided into two groups: one optimized via echocardiography (29 patients) and the other optimized via acoustic cardiography (25 patients). Optimization occurred within 6 months of device implantation. Results: Both cardiac acoustic and echocardiographic methods improved maximum oxygen absorption 3 months after optimization, and there was no significant difference between these two methods. Conclusions: Both methods, audicor and echocardiography, improved CRT. The cardiac acoustic method is not worse than the previously used echocardiographic method.