Related Experiment Videos
Acute myocardial infarction and left bundle branch block
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical Care
|May 1, 1981
Insights
Diagnosing acute myocardial infarction with complete left bundle branch block is possible. Significant injury currents can alter the electrocardiogram, revealing infarction patterns in serial monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrocardiography
Background:
- Complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB) frequently obscures the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI).
- Distinguishing acute MI from baseline CLBBB changes presents a clinical challenge.
Abstract:
Complete left bundle branch block often masks old as well as acute myocardial infarctions. However, a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the presence of complete left bundle branch block can be made when the acute injury current is large enough to modify the secondary repolarization abnormalities of left bundle branch block. Under these circumstances the classical ST-T changes of an acute infarction may evolve in serial electrocardiograms.