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If you’re considering a CRT device here are some questions to ask your doctor.
Already implanted with a CRT device? Go to the device support page for more information.
With heart failure, your heart doesn’t pump as well as it should, so your blood fails to supply your body with the oxygen it needs. CRT devices help the heart pump properly in a coordinated way.
“The fact that these devices exist means that I won’t need a heart transplant at this time, or perhaps ever.”
“The heart failure device I have is not only a life saver, but it is a lifestyle. It’s given me an opportunity to live the life the way I want to live.”
“I feel confident working, going to the gym, and exercising, knowing that my device works. It is very comforting.”
CRT devices help your heart pump more efficiently and monitor your condition, so your health care team can provide the right treatment. By delivering tiny amounts of electrical energy, they restore normal timing of the heartbeats causing both ventricles to pump together more effectively.
There are two types of CRT devices: CRT-P and CRT-D.
A cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P), sometimes called a biventricular pacemaker, functions like a normal pacemaker and delivers small electrical impulses to the left and right ventricles to treat slow heart rhythms.
A cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) is a biventricular pacemaker with a built-in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This device can treat both slow heart rhythms and dangerously fast heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Like any battery, the energy in your implanted device will decrease over time. The battery’s life is affected both by how much energy is programmed to deliver the electrical impulse and how often it is required to pace or deliver therapy to your heart. Your physician will program the device to meet your individual needs.
Boston Scientific RESONATE™ family of CRT-D devices are projected to last 8-15 years¹ and VISIONIST™ CRT-P devices are projected to last 7-14 years.² The 8-year product performance reports show that CRT-Ds with EnduraLife Technology have greater longevity than comparable devices.3-5
Boston Scientific
CRT-Ds still in service3
Medtronic
Viva™ XT CRT-Ds4 still in service
Medtronic
Viva Quad XT CRT-D5
Boston Scientific CRT devices have special features called sensors. These sensors can detect an increase in your body’s motion or an increase in your breathing rate when you are more active. When the sensor detects this increase, it will adapt its pacing rate as needed. This increase in heart rate will change with your needs during everyday activities or exercise.
The Boston Scientific RESONATE™ family of CRT-D devices include a heart failure diagnostic. This diagnostic is a group of sensors within your device that continuously listens and checks on your heart. That information is sent remotely from your LATITUDE™ Communicator to your health care team daily through a secure website. Based on this information, your health care team is notified of changes in your heart health and may reach out to you.
Typically, a CRT device is implanted just under the skin near your collarbone. The leads are placed in the heart’s right atrium, the right ventricle, and on the surface of the left ventricle of the heart. Prior to the procedure, your doctor will discuss which side of your chest the device will be implanted.
While complications don’t happen very often, it’s important to know that there are risks associated with the implantation of any device or lead. You should talk with your doctor about these risks.
See our patient manuals for detailed safety information.
Full recovery from surgery can take from several days to a few weeks. While you recover, your health care team may ask you to avoid strenuous activity (especially lifting and other activities that use your upper body). Doing so helps ensure the leads have time to firmly attach to your heart tissue.
Using wireless technology, your doctor can check your device remotely for easy and convenient follow-up visits. Remote monitoring and technology make health care more seamless, but you will need to see your doctor in-person for certain types of care.
At Boston Scientific, we are dedicated to advancing heart rhythm management technologies by creating smaller, longer-lasting implants.
Boston Scientific’s most advanced CRT-D devices are equipped with an industry-leading device battery, a minute ventilation sensor to support daily activity levels, and exclusive heart failure diagnostic trends to better manage your heart condition.
Boston Scientific’s most advanced CRT-P devices are equipped with an industry-leading device battery and exclusive minute ventilation sensor to support daily activity levels.
References
1. PHYSICIAN'S TECHNICAL MANUAL RESONATE™ HF CRT-D, RESONATE™ CRT-D, RESONATE™ X4 CRT-D, VIGILANT™ CRT-D, VIGILANT™ X4 CRT-D, MOMENTUM™ CRT-D, MOMENTUM™ X4 CRT-D. Part Number: 51113879-001 EN US 2021-10-27
2. PHYSICIAN'S TECHNICAL MANUAL VISIONIST™, VISIONIST™ X4, VALITUDE™, VALITUDE™ X4, INTUA™, INVIVE™, CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY PACEMAKER. Part Number: 359252-003 EN US 2018-03-01
3. Boston Scientific Q4 2023 Product Performance Report survival probability including depletions and malfunctions of DYNAGEN/INOGEN/ORIGEN CRT-D at 8 years approved in the US April 2014, page 14, available online at HYPERLINK "http://www.bostonscientific.com/ppr"www.BostonScientific.com/ppr.
4. Medtronic CRM Product Performance Report survival probability including normal battery depletion of, DTBA1BD1 Viva XT CRT-D at 8 years and market released on 29 January 2013, Medtronic product performance as of 1 December 2023, available online at https://wwwp.medtronic.com/productperformance/. Viva is a trademark of Medtronic and its affiliates.
5. Medtronic CRM Product Performance Report survival probability including normal battery depletion of, DTBA1QQ Viva Quad XT CRT-D at 8 years and market released on 3 July 2014, Medtronic product performance as of 1 December 2023, available online at https://wwwp.medtronic.com/productperformance/. Viva is a trademark of Medtronic and its affiliates.
Implantable Devices
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices
Important Safety Information
Cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers (CRT-P) and defibrillators (CRT-D) are designed to treat heart failure patients who may or may not have symptoms or who may have symptoms despite the best available drug therapy. They are also designed to help your heart pump more effectively and meet your body’s need for blood flow. These devices are sensitive to strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can be affected by certain sources of electric or magnetic fields. Some of the risks encountered during the implant procedure include, but are not limited to, the following: Bleeding, formation of a blood clot, damage to adjacent structures (tendons, muscles, nerves), puncture of a lung or vein, damage to the heart (perforation or tissue damage), dangerous arrhythmias, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, death. Some of the risks encountered after the ICD system is implanted may include, but are not limited to, the following: Infection, erosion of the skin near your device, lead(s) may move out of place in the heart, device may move from the original implant site, difficulty coping with having an implanted device. The device might be prevented from shocking or pacing due to electromagnetic interference. Electrodes on the lead or the pacing pulses may cause an irritation or damaging effect on the surrounding tissues, including heart tissue and nerves. You may receive a shock or pacing therapy when it is not needed (unnecessary therapy). The device might not be able to detect or appropriately treat your heart rhythms. The device may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. You may experience some discomfort from the incision as you recover from the surgery. With all medical procedures there are risks associated. In rare cases device failure or death can occur. Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of this system. To obtain a copy of the device Patient Handbook for more detailed device safety information, go to www.bostonscientific.com, or you can request a copy by calling 1-866-484-3268 or writing to Boston Scientific, 4100 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55112. Rx only
Device Quality and Reliability
It is Boston Scientific’s intent to provide implantable devices of high quality and reliability. However, these devices may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. Refer to Boston Scientific’s CRM product performance report on www.bostonscientific.com for more information about device performance, including the types and rates of malfunctions that these devices have experienced historically. While historical data may not be predictive of future device performance, such data can provide important context for understanding the overall reliability of these types of products. Also, it is important that you talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of a device.
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