Wenckebach periods associated with high grade second degree (2 : 1 and 3 : 1) A-V block

An electrocardiogram (ECG) of bilateral bundle branch block (BBBB) which may be attributable to a mixture of 2 : 1 and 3 : 1 atrioventricular (A-V) block is described. The irregularity of QRS complexes with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern during 2 : 1 A-V block may be ascribable to "Wenckebach periods", which might be due either to A-V nodal or His bundle or bundle branch delay. However, it was impossible to distinguish between them precisely because appropriate His bundle studies were not performed during the active arrhythmic phase. Although the exact mechanism involved were not established with certainty, different rates of recovery in conduction in the bundle branches in association with a marked prolongation of the refractoriness would seem to be the unique feature of this complex arrhythmia. An ECG tracing of BBBB indicating high grade second degree (2 : 1 and 3 : 1) A-V block, in which "spontaneous" occurrence of "Wenckebach periods" with 2 consecutive blocked P waves can be observed during 2 : 1 A-V block, has never been reported previously as far as can be ascertained from published records.