logo
    Long-Term Atrioventricular Block Following Valve Surgery: Electrocardiographic and Surgical Predictors
    1
    Citation
    30
    Reference
    10
    Related Paper
    Citation Trend
    Abstract:
    Background: Bradyarrhythmia requiring pacemaker implantation among patients undergoing valve surgery may occur even after several years, with unclear predictors. Our aim was to investigate the incidence of pacemaker implantation at different follow-up times and identify associated predictors. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study evaluating 1046 consecutive patients who underwent valve surgery at the Cardiac Surgery Division of Bologna University Hospital from 2005 to 2010. Results: During 10 ± 4 years of follow-up, 11.4% of these patients required pacemaker implantation. Interventions on both atrioventricular valves independently predicted long-term pacemaker implantation (SHR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.8, p = 0.014). Preoperative atrioventricular conduction disease strongly predicted long-term atrioventricular block, with right bundle branch block as the major predictor (SHR 7.0, 95% CI 3.9–12.4, p < 0.001), followed by left bundle branch block (SHR 4.9, 95% CI 2.4–10.1, p < 0.001), and left anterior fascicular block (SHR 3.9, 95% CI 1.8–8.3, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients undergoing valvular surgery have a continuing risk of atrioventricular block late after surgery until the 12-month follow-up, which was clearly superior to the rate of atrioventricular block observed at long-term. Pre-operative atrioventricular conduction disease and combined surgery on both atrioventricular valves are strong predictors of atrioventricular block requiring pacemaker implantation.
    Keywords:
    Atrioventricular block
    Bundle branch block
    Atrioventricular valve
    Acute rheumatic fever
    Sinus tachycardia
    Bundle branch block
    PR interval
    Atrioventricular block
    Citations (27)
    Aberrant ventricular conduction (AbC) was produced in 52 subjects, including 14 normal volunteers, by the introduction of atrial premature beats through a transvenous catheter electrode. Simultaneous standard electrocardiograms and vectorcardiogams permitted detailed analysis of configuration. Multiple patterns of AbC were produced in 29 of 52 subjects. The general categories and their frequency were as follows: right bundle-branch block without significant axis shift from control, 31; right bundle-branch block with left axis deviation, 27; left axis deviation, 14; inferior axis deviation, six; right bundle-branch block with inferior axis deviation, seven; and complete left bundle-branch block, six. These patterns were believed to depend on the location of isolated or combined functional block in the major pathways of the specialized conduction system, which include the right bundle branch, common left bundle branch, anterior division of the left bundle branch, and posterior division of the left bundle branch. The present study has documented the general varieties of AbC, their relevance to clinical cardiology, and the varieties most likely to cause diagnostic difficulty.
    Left axis deviation
    Bundle branch block
    Bundle of His
    Bundle branches
    Clinical Significance
    Citations (80)
    A patient with a family history of sudden cardiac death and a structurally normal heart presented with a resting ECG intermittently displaying a saddle‐type Brugada‐ECG, which could be reproducibly converted to a coved‐type ECG pattern suggestive of Brugada syndrome. However, no ST‐segment changes occurred in the presence of a true right bundle branch block (RBBB) in the same patient. In consideration of the inalienable diagnostic criterion of dynamic ECG abnormalities in the right precordial leads in Brugada syndrome, setting the diagnosis in patients with true RBBB may be unattainable.
    Bundle branch block
    Precordial examination
    Blockages in any of the three intraventricular conduction pathways (the right bundle branch, and anterior superior radiations and posterior inferior radiations of the left bundle branch) have specific effects on the QRS pattern as seen on the standard electrocardiogram. The presence of block in two of the three pathways (manifested by right bundle branch block and left axis deviation, right bundle branch block and right axis deviation, alternating complete right and left bundle branch block, or to a lesser extent left bundle branch block) has been found in many patients with documented intermittent heart block or in patients who subsequently develop permanent complete heart block. The presence of this QRS pattern in patients with histories of syncope or dizziness suggests that their symptoms may be due to intermittent heart block. Such patients should be monitored to document heart block, or should have permanent demand pacemakers implanted, or both.
    Left axis deviation
    Intraventricular conduction
    Bundle branch block
    Citations (0)
    Blockages in any of the three intraventricular conduction pathways (the right bundle branch, and anterior superior radiations and posterior inferior radiations of the left bundle branch) have specific effects on the QRS pattern as seen on the standard electrocardiogram. The presence of block in two of the three pathways (manifested by right bundle branch block and left axis deviation, right bundle branch block and right axis deviation, alternating complete right and left bundle branch block, or to a lesser extent left bundle branch block) has been found in many patients with documented intermittent heart block or in patients who subsequently develop permanent complete heart block. The presence of this QRS pattern in patients with histories of syncope or dizziness suggests that their symptoms may be due to intermittent heart block. Such patients should be monitored to document heart block, or should have permanent demand pacemakers implanted, or both.
    Left axis deviation
    Intraventricular conduction
    Bundle branch block