Cardiac insufficiency can result from persistent heart rhythm abnormalties, untreated high blood pressure, heart attack, heart muscle disorder, inflammation of the heart muscle, a heart valve disorder. Cardiac insufficiency means that the patient suffers from a decline in physical fitness, shortness of breath and leg oedemas. The condition can be detected with the help of a cardiac ultrasound examination. A cardiac catheterization examination will throw light on the circulatory efficiency of the coronary vessels. In most cases, treatment of cardiac insufficiency is initially based on medication to treat the underlying cause! The therapy specifically targeted at treating the underlying cause is of crucial importance. In cases of serious cardiac insufficiency it may be necessary to implant a special type of cardiac pacemaker and/ or defibrillator device.