Related Experiment Videos
Chronic bilateral bundle-branch block. Long-term observations in ambulatory patients
British Heart Journal
|February 1, 1977
Summary
Elderly patients with bilateral bundle-branch block often have severe heart disease. Prognosis depends more on myocardial disease than the conduction defect itself, suggesting conservative management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Bilateral bundle-branch block (BBBB) is a significant electrocardiographic finding.
- Its clinical implications, particularly in elderly outpatient populations, require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical outcomes and prognosis of elderly patients diagnosed with chronic bilateral bundle-branch block.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up and retrospective chart review of 79 outpatients with BBBB over 28 months.
- Data collected included demographics, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, and mortality causes.
Main Results:
- The average age was 73.3 years; 30.3% had NYHA class 3 or 4. 10.1% died, primarily from pump failure, not arrhythmias.
- Only one sudden death occurred in a patient with stable BBBB for nearly a decade. Vertigo was rarely cardiac-related (11.8%).
Conclusions:
- Elderly patients with chronic BBBB have a high incidence of severe heart disease and mortality.
- Prognosis is linked to underlying myocardial disease severity, not the conduction abnormality itself.
- Conservative management is recommended for this patient group.