Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Ventricular dyssynchrony is a condition in which the ventricles (the lower two chambers) of the heart fail to beat in a coordinated manner. This condition can cause blood to become stuck in the heart and not effectively move to the rest of the body. There are many diagnostic tests and treatments available for people living with ventricular dyssynchrony.
This article focuses on the types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatments of ventricular dyssynchrony.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Ventricular dyssynchrony is used to describe when the chambers of the heart fail to beat in a coordinated pattern.
The chambers of the heart need to fill with blood and pump in order to effectively move blood to the rest of the body. When the chambers get out of sync, then the heart is moving inefficiently, and as a result, it cannot pump as effectively.
You can think of a heartbeat like a carefully choreographed dance routine—if even one step is misplaced, then it can throw off the entire process. Similarly, the heart muscle must activate and pump in a very coordinated process in order to push blood to the rest of the body.
The most significant problems occur when the ventricles of the heart—which are responsible for moving blood to the organs of the body—are unable to coordinate their contractions. When the ventricles are uncoordinated, this is called ventricular dyssynchrony and can disrupt blood flow in the heart.
The heart beats and causes the ventricles to contract together to push blood to the rest of the body. If the timing of ventricular contractions is out of sync, then the ventricles are unable to efficiently move blood to the rest of the body and blood can build up in the heart. When blood builds up within the heart, it can lead to a problem known as congestive heart failure.
Since ventricular dyssynchrony can sometimes present in heart failure with systolic dysfunction, it can be treated with therapies that regular congestive heart failure patients do not receive. While the two conditions share much overlap, people with ventricular dyssynchrony may also benefit from additional treatments like cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Types of Ventricular Dyssynchrony
Ventricular dyssynchrony is divided into several types; some types are based on the anatomic location of the dyssynchrony. These include:
Ultimately, the different types of dyssynchrony often result in blood not effectively moving to the rest of the body. However, understanding the specific type of dyssynchrony can be useful for doctors to better manage the disease.
Ventricular Dyssynchrony Symptoms
The most common symptom of ventricular dyssynchrony is fatigue.
You might notice some difficulty with going on long walks or problems catching your breath when climbing stairs.Some people will commonly experience swelling that is noticeable in their feet and ankles. You may also notice a persistent cough. Some people notice difficulty with breathing when lying down flat in bed. These are all signs of heart failure, which can be the result of ventricular dyssynchrony.
In some cases, you may not notice any significant symptoms, but a diagnostic test called anechocardiogrammay still show evidence of ventricular dyssynchrony. In this case, your doctors may want to monitor your heart and check to see if any symptoms develop.
Causes of Dyssynchrony
The most common causes of ventricular dyssynchrony are diseases that damage the heart muscle. The most common condition that can lead to dyssynchrony is a prior myocardial infarction—orheart attack.
In some cases, abnormal heart rhythms, orarrhythmias, can lead to the development of ventricular dyssynchrony.Additionally, some genetic disorders likehypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathycan lead to the development of ventricular dyssynchrony. However, it may not always be clear what causes dyssynchrony in some people.
Heart Failure and Ventricular DyssynchronyHeart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony are linked together. Risk factors for heart failure—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes—are also risks for the development of ventricular dyssynchrony.
Heart Failure and Ventricular Dyssynchrony
Heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony are linked together. Risk factors for heart failure—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes—are also risks for the development of ventricular dyssynchrony.
Diagnosing Dyssynchrony
To diagnose ventricular dyssynchrony, healthcare providers will need to evaluate the heart with an echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of the heart.
Usually, a cardiologist will review the images from the echocardiogram and determine if there are abnormal segments of the ventricle that exhibit signs of ventricular dyssynchrony.
These are areas where the heart muscle is slow to activate and contract. If these segments are seen on an echocardiogram, they may be further evaluated with additional tests such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scan. In some cases, a cardiologist may want to perform a catheterization of the heart in order to evaluate the vessels in the heart.
All these tests are used to evaluate the severity of ventricular dyssynchrony and determine potential causes. These tests are critical because quantifying and understanding ventricular dyssynchrony can help your physician decide on the optimal treatments.
Treatments
Medications used to treat heart failure may also improve ventricular dyssynchrony. These include:
This may sound like a lot of medications, but together all these medications work in combination to support the heart and help it to pump more effectively.
The best treatments for ventricular dyssynchrony combine several approaches, including:
Dietary changes such as eating a diet that is low in sodium and rich in fibers, plants, and omega-3 fatty acids can help promote a healthy heart.
Ventricular dyssynchrony is a form of heart failure and should not be taken lightly. However, working with heart disease specialists such as a cardiologist, heart failure navigator, and your primary care doctor can improve your quality of life when living with ventricular dyssynchrony. Some people can live for years with ventricular dyssynchrony.
Importantly, other diseases such as infections can be even more serious for people living with ventricular dyssynchrony. If you do not feel well or become sick, do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
Is ventricular dyssynchrony a life-threatening condition?
What are the symptoms of ventricular dyssynchrony?
How is ventricular dyssynchrony diagnosed?
To diagnose ventricular dyssynchrony, an echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, must be performed. The ultrasound can show doctors images of the heart muscle as it is beating. By evaluating the different segments or regions of the heart, doctors can determine if there are regions that are out of sync with one another.
How is ventricular dyssynchrony treated?
Ventricular dyssynchrony is first treated with medications to help the heart pump more effectively, such as a class of medications called beta-blockers. In addition, cardiac resynchronization therapy, which uses a cardiac pacemaker, may be used to treat dyssynchrony.
What is electrical dyssynchrony?
The heart beats as a result of an electric signal in the heart. If the electrical signals in the heart are out of sync, then the heart muscle may beat abnormally. This can lead to electrical dyssynchrony. Commonly, arrhythmias such as bundle branch blocks, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia are known to be linked to ventricular dyssynchrony.
What is septal dyssynchrony?
Septal dyssynchrony is used to describe when a specific portion of the heart, the septum that divides the right and left ventricle, is unable to beat in a coordinated manner. When the septum beats and moves abnormally, this can cause blood to flow in an abnormal way within the heart.
A Word From Verywell
Ventricular dyssynchrony is an increasingly common heart condition and is linked to heart failure. Fortunately, many treatments are available. Connecting with a cardiologist, a physician who specializes in heart disease, is critical in order to treat and manage ventricular dyssynchrony.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Ventricular dyssynchrony.Cleland JGF, Daubert J-C, Erdmann E, et al.The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure.New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;352(15):1539-1549. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa050496The prognostic value of diastolic and systolic mechanical left ventricular dyssynchrony among patients with coronary heart disease.JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2019;12(7):1215-1226. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.05.018Bleeker GB, Bax JJ, Steendijk P, Schalij MJ, van der Wall EE.Left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Nat Rev Cardiol. 2006;3(4):213-219. doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0505Aalen JM, Remme EW, Larsen CK, et al.Mechanism of abnormal septal motion in left bundle branch block: role of left ventricular wall interactions and myocardial scar.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2402-2413. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.11.030Gorcsan J, Lumens J.Opposing wall pushing and stretching: response to cardiac resynchronization therapy requires electrical delay and viability.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2414-2416. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.01.013
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Ventricular dyssynchrony.Cleland JGF, Daubert J-C, Erdmann E, et al.The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure.New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;352(15):1539-1549. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa050496The prognostic value of diastolic and systolic mechanical left ventricular dyssynchrony among patients with coronary heart disease.JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2019;12(7):1215-1226. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.05.018Bleeker GB, Bax JJ, Steendijk P, Schalij MJ, van der Wall EE.Left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Nat Rev Cardiol. 2006;3(4):213-219. doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0505Aalen JM, Remme EW, Larsen CK, et al.Mechanism of abnormal septal motion in left bundle branch block: role of left ventricular wall interactions and myocardial scar.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2402-2413. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.11.030Gorcsan J, Lumens J.Opposing wall pushing and stretching: response to cardiac resynchronization therapy requires electrical delay and viability.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2414-2416. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.01.013
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedars-Sinai.Ventricular dyssynchrony.Cleland JGF, Daubert J-C, Erdmann E, et al.The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure.New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;352(15):1539-1549. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa050496The prognostic value of diastolic and systolic mechanical left ventricular dyssynchrony among patients with coronary heart disease.JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2019;12(7):1215-1226. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.05.018Bleeker GB, Bax JJ, Steendijk P, Schalij MJ, van der Wall EE.Left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Nat Rev Cardiol. 2006;3(4):213-219. doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0505Aalen JM, Remme EW, Larsen CK, et al.Mechanism of abnormal septal motion in left bundle branch block: role of left ventricular wall interactions and myocardial scar.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2402-2413. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.11.030Gorcsan J, Lumens J.Opposing wall pushing and stretching: response to cardiac resynchronization therapy requires electrical delay and viability.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2414-2416. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.01.013
Cedars-Sinai.Ventricular dyssynchrony.
Cleland JGF, Daubert J-C, Erdmann E, et al.The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure.New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;352(15):1539-1549. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa050496
The prognostic value of diastolic and systolic mechanical left ventricular dyssynchrony among patients with coronary heart disease.JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2019;12(7):1215-1226. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.05.018
Bleeker GB, Bax JJ, Steendijk P, Schalij MJ, van der Wall EE.Left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Nat Rev Cardiol. 2006;3(4):213-219. doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0505
Aalen JM, Remme EW, Larsen CK, et al.Mechanism of abnormal septal motion in left bundle branch block: role of left ventricular wall interactions and myocardial scar.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2402-2413. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.11.030
Gorcsan J, Lumens J.Opposing wall pushing and stretching: response to cardiac resynchronization therapy requires electrical delay and viability.JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;12(12):2414-2416. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.01.013
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