CRT-D therapy in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation.

The number of patients with atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure has steadily increased in the United States. The presence of atrial fibrillation increases morbidity and mortality for patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The emergence of cardiac resynchronization therapy to improve symptoms and survival from congestive heart failure may provide benefits for those with atrial fibrillation; we review the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction and the promise of cardiac resynchronization therapy to improve symptoms for the for these patients.