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[Problems of fascicular asyncronism in advanced left bundle branch blocks with marked axial deviation towards the
Insights
Advanced left bundle branch blocks with left axis deviation often indicate significant heart issues like cardiomegaly and heart failure. This deviation may signal asynchronous left ventricular activation due to anterior fascicular block.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Medical Imaging
Context:
- Focuses on patients with advanced left bundle branch blocks (LBBB) and left axis deviation (LAD) (> -45 degrees).
- Investigates the clinical, radiological, and vectocardiographic findings in these patients.
- Highlights the frequent presence of marked cardiomegaly and severe congestive heart failure.
Purpose:
- To explore the potential link between left axis deviation in LBBB and asynchronous left ventricular activation.
- To investigate if ECG findings, specifically delayed intrinsicoid deflection in lead aVL compared to V6, indicate anterior fascicular block.
- To discuss other potential causes of LAD in advanced LBBB.
Summary:
- Studied 12 patients with advanced LBBB and LAD, finding significant cardiomegaly and heart failure in half.
- Hypothesizes LAD results from asynchronous left ventricular activation due to anterior fascicle lesions.
- Observed the proposed ECG sign (delayed aVL vs. V6 intrinsicoid deflection) in only two patients, suggesting other causes for LAD in LBBB.
Impact:
- Contributes to understanding the complex electrocardiographic manifestations of LBBB.
- May refine diagnostic criteria for identifying specific conduction abnormalities in heart disease.
- Informs clinical assessment and management of patients with advanced LBBB and associated cardiac conditions.
Abstract:
Twelve patients, showing advanced left bundle branch blocks with axial deviation toward the left (beyond -45 degrees) were studied by clinical, radiological and vectocardiographic examinations. All of them showed a marked cardiomegaly and half of them had also severe congestive heart failure. The left axial deviation may be connected to an asyncronism of the left ventricular activation, due to a delayed excitation of the antero-superior wall because of a lesion of the anterior fascicle. The authors think that this asynchronism of the activation should be evident in ECG test by a more delayed intrinsecoid deflection in aVL than in V6, as has been previously pointed out in the isolated anterior fascicular block. This ecgraphic datum was found in two patients only. The other possible causes of a left axial deviation in advanced left bundle branch block are discussed.
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