Minithoracotomy as a primary alternative for LV lead implantation during coronary resynchronization therapy

Background Numerous anomalies of cardiac venous system prevent optimal endovascular implantation of LV lead in more than 15% of patients with heart failure and indications for Coronary Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). Insisting on endovenous approach in these patients can be one of the potentional reasons for large number of nonresponders reported in the literature. Purpose of this study was to analyze the results of an alternative mioepicardial approach to the stimulation of the left ventricle in CRT.