[Physician's approach in treating myocardial infarct complicated by a transverse heart block]

On the basis of the results of observation over 253 patients in whom the acute period of myocardial infarction was complicated by atrioventricular block, the author recommends the therapeutic tactics in this group of patients. It is shown that electrical stimulation is the most effective method of treatment in complete atrioventricular block. Analysis of the natural course of atrioventricular block in myocardial infarction shows that the artificial pacemaker should be implanted not earlier than 4 weeks after the development of the block, if the block does not disappear by that time. Data on the condition of circulation obtained by means of the routine physical methods of examination are the most valuable criteria in the choice of the ortimum parameters of electrical stimulation of the heart.