Humans ; Bundle-Branch Block/diagnosis*

Rate-dependent left bundle branch block during general anesthesia is rare, but its occurrence makes the electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia or infarction difficult. It can also be confused with slow rate ventricular tachycardia. Herein, a case of rate-dependent left bundle branch block, in a patient with no previous history of ischemic heart disease, is reported. The administration of esmolol resulted in a decrease in the heart rate, with reversion to normal sinus rhythm.
Anesthesia, General* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

PURPOSE: Patients with a suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the setting of a new or presumably new left bundle branch block (LBBB) present an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to clinicians. This study was conducted to identify the frequency of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-equivalent in this population, determine the diagnostic value of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features and propose a new diagnostic algorithm. METHODS: From 793 patients who underwent emergent coronary angiography between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 2015, we examined data pertaining to 21 patients with new or presumably new LBBB. These patients were classified into three groups: 1) STEMI-equivalent, defined as an acute coronary occlusion on coronary angiogram (six patients), 2) non-STEMI (NSTEMI) (six patients), and 3) diagnosis other than myocardial infarction (non-MI) (nine patients). RESULTS: Six patients who met the ST-segment concordance criteria (score≥3) were STEMI-equivalent. On the other hand, seven patients with a discordant ST-elevation of ≥5 mm (score=2) were NSTEMI or non-MI. Therefore ST-segment concordance was highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of STEMI-equivalent. Compared with NSTEMI patients, nine non-MI patients with a normal angiogram had a low ejection fraction (35.6±19.0 vs. 56.0±12.9, p=0.04) and increased left ventricle end-diastolic dimension (63.9±8.8 vs. 51.7±6.4, p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Only a minority of patients with LBBB and suspected AMI have a STEMI-equivalent. Low ejection fraction and increased end-diastolic dimension of left ventricle indicate normal coronary angiogram in patients without ST-segment concordance of Sgarbossa criteria. We propose a new modified diagnostic algorithm in this population.
Bundle-Branch Block ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Occlusion ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Hand ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction

Rate dependent left bundle branch block (RDLBBB) is an uncommon case. RDLBBB is defined as an intraventricular conduction defect that may return, if only temporarily, to sinus rhythm at lower heart rates. It appears when the heart rate exceeds a certain critical value. Although RDLBBB is usually benign, its diagnosis and treatment have clinical importance for association of RDLBBB and myocardial ischemia and infarction. Therefore, in the case of detection of intraoperative RDLBBB, a clear differentiation should be done as soon as possible. Also it is important to start appropriate treatment and to do clinical follow-up examination. We report a case of intraoperative RDLBBB during general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 82 years old female patient who has a history of hypertension.
Anesthesia, General ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia

Transient left bundle branch block (LBBB) is uncommon during anesthesia. It is mainly related to the changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Its occurrence can be confused with acute myocardial ischemia or ventricular tachycardia, therefore differential diagnosis is important. We report a case of transient LBBB which developed with hypoxia during monitored anesthesia care. LBBB is reversed to sinus rhythm after recovery from hypoxia.
Anesthesia* ; Anoxia* ; Blood Pressure ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Conscious Sedation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Heart Rate ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

BACKGROUND: Although radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is useful in the treatment of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, especially right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia (RVOTT), some tachycardias remain resistant despite several attempts. This study was focused to search of electrocardiographic characteristics suggestive of successful radiofrequency ablation of idiopathic ventricular tahycardia showing LBBB and inferior axis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 19 patients (mean age 4415, male 5, female 14) those we tried RFCA under the diagnosis of RVOTVT. The study subjects were grouped into success group (N=14) and failed group (N=5). We analyzed the morphologic characteristics of QRS complex during ventricular tachycardias or ventricular premature beats in both groups. RESULTS: Acute success was obtained in 14 of 19 patients. For RFCA of RVOTT, pace mapping and/or activation mapping were used to select an ablation site as described previously(1). Activation mapping was possible only for 5 patients. All patients except one patient of success group showed inferior axis of QRS during VT. We didn't find significant difference in QRS axis, QRS morphologies in lead 1 and aVL, and QRS width in lead II and V2 between success (N=14) and failed group (N=5). However, in analysis of morphologic comparison of precordial leads, 12 out of 14 patients in success group showed initial r wave in V1 (p=0.017) and 11 patients had precordial transition >V3 (p=0.038). Whereas, in failed group, 4 patients had precordial transition V3 and only one patient showed precordial transition >V3. Initial r of V1 was seen in one patient and remaining 4 patients showed QS pattern in V1. CONCLUSION: Analysis of QRS morphology in V1 and precordial transition site may identify patients with high and low success rate during RFCA of idiopathic RVOTT
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Catheter Ablation* ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCMP) is a primary myocardial disease of unknown cause characterized by left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and impaired myocardial contractility. In 1973, Kreulen et al. classified DCMP into two groups-one with generalized hypokinesia and the other with regional asynergy in addition to generalized hypokinesia. Diminished coronary flow reserve has been reported in DCMP with generalized hypokinesia but its mechanism remains obscure. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the degree of microvascular dysfunction and the difference of regional wall motion abnormality in DCMP with regional asynergy. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 11 patients (M:F=:5, mean age:60 15yrs) a diagnosis of DCMP with regional asynergy, normal sinus rhythm without left bundle branch block and normal coronary angiogram who underwent Doppler wire from September 1997 to December 1999. Left ventricle was divided into three territories according to the coronary arterial distribution by echocardiography(A: coronary artery territory showing regional asynergy, I: coronary artery territory showing intermediate wall motion, P: coronary artery territory showing relatively preserved wall motion). Coronary flow reserve(CFR) was measured at the mid portion of left anterior descending artery(LAD), left circumflex artery(LCX) and right coronary artery(RCA) with 0.014 inch Doppler guide wire before and during intracoronary injection of 12-18 of adenosine. Relative coronary flow reserve(rCFR) was obtained by the ratio of the CFR in coronary artery of the territory showing regional asynergy and relatively preserved wall motion to the CFR in coronary artery of the territory showing intermediate wall motion (CFRA/CFRI, CFRP/CFRI). RESULTS: Regional asynergy was observed in LAD territory in 4(36%) patients, LCX territory in 4(36%) patients, RCA territory in 3(28%) patients (p=s). The mean CFR was 2.5 0.6 in LAD, 2.4 0.5 in LCX, 2.4 0.6 in RCA(p=s). The mean CFR and rCFR in coronary arteries showing regional asynergy were significantly lower than those in coronary arteries showing relatively preserved wall motion(2.1 0.5 vs 2.7 0.6, p<0.05, 0.84 0.12 vs 1.11 0.11, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Degree of regional hypokinesia in DCMP with regional asynergy seems to be associated with that of microvascular dysfunction.
Adenosine ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Coronary Vessels ; Deoxycytidine Monophosphate ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypokinesia*

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) becomes an useful treatment for idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, especially right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (RVOT VT) typically originates from "superior septal" aspect of right ventricular outflow tract. However, some of the right ventricular outflow tachycardias remain resistant despite repeated attempts of RFCA. This study was focused to search the electrocardiographic characteristics suggesting procedural success of radiofrequency ablation in RVOT VT and ventricular tachycardia that can not be ablated by conventional approach confined to right ventricular outflow tract even though to show similar electrocardiographic morphology. METHODS: The study subjects were 25 patients who underwent RFCA with the diagnosis of RVOT VT. We classified the study subjects into 2 groups and in group 1 (N=17, Age 47.5 +/- 16.8) in those successful RFCA was possible in RVOT. In group 2 (N=8, Age 54.8 +/- 8.0), the removal of VT was not possible with the RFCA confined in RVOT. We analyzed the morphologic characteristics of QRS complex of VT or ventricular premature beats in right precordial leads; V(1-3). The QRS and R wave duration, height of R wave, depth of S wave, R/S ratio and R wave duration index were measured. RESULTS: There was no difference of age and sex between group 1 and 2 (Group 1: N=17, Male 29.4%, Age 49.5 +/- 16.8 vs Group 2: N=8, Age 54.8 +/- 8.0, Male 37.5%). The maximal QRS duration in V(1-3) was 144.2 +/- 23.6 ms in group 1 and 136.3 +/- 25.1 ms in group 2. The R wave duration and R wave duration index were not different either between group 1 and 2. However, the R wave duration of lead V 3 in group 2 was 97.0 +/- 34.4 ms and significantly longer than 65.0 +/- 26.0 msec in Group 1 (p=0.04). R wave duration index also showed significant difference between two groups: 72.0 +/- 23.5% of group 2 vs 45.4 +/- 17.8% of group 1. In comparison of R wave height and depth of S wave in V(1-3) between two groups, the R/S ratio of lead V3 in group 2 showed the ratio of 343.4 +/- 227.7% which was significantly larger than 97.4 +/- 92.2% in group 1. CONCLUSION: For the practice of RFCA for RVOT VT, morphologic characterstics of VT or VPC showing wide R wave and high R/S wave ratio in precordial leads, especially in V3 could be an useful electrocardiographic indicator to suspect the unusual focus of idiopathic VT showing inferior axis and LBBB pattern.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Catheter Ablation* ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

A patient with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, and pre-existing atypical atrial flutter and left bundle branch block, developed broad complex tachycardia. In this unique and uncommon case of double tachycardia, we discuss the diagnostic approach of ventricular tachycardia in patients with broad complex tachycardia, and the use of different contemporary algorithms to help diagnose ventricular tachycardia and differentiate it from supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction.
Algorithms ; Atrial Flutter ; complications ; diagnosis ; Bundle-Branch Block ; physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathies ; complications ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: he patients with atrial septal defect generally have no symptoms in the childhood, and have nonspecific symptoms such as dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, and palpitation even in the late period of adult. Thus delayed diagnosis for whom surgical correction was undoubtedly needed remains to be resolved. Accordingly, the simple and noninvasive method such as electrocardiography in patients with atrial septal defect having the nonspecific symptoms or having no symptoms warrants to be developed. This study was performed to see whether the crochetage pattern on R wave in inferior limb leads is effective for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of atrial septal defect and relates to the magnitude of left to right shunt. METHODS: Our subjects were 129 patients diagnosed as the atrial septal defect by the echocardiography and cardiac catheterization from January 1992 to June 1998. We selected 57 persons, as control group, who showed the normal findings under the echocardiography and also showed the incomplete right bundle branch block on the electrocardiography. We compared the frequency of the crochetage pattern in inferior limb leads between the two groups. Also we compared the frequency of the crochetage pattern before operation and after operation according to the quantity of the left to right shunt in the operated 40 patients with atrial septal defect. RESULTS: ) The crochetage pattern was observed in 61.2% in patients with atrial septal defect and its frequency was greater than that of the control group (38.6%, p=0.005). 2) The crochetage pattern was disappeared by the operation in 16/29 patients (55.2%, p=0.001). 3) The frequency of disappearance of the crochetage pattern after operation differed significantly according to shunt severity: 72.2% for a Qp/Qs> or =3.0 group, 18.2% for a Qp/Qs<3.0 group (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: The crochetage pattern on R wave in inferior limb leads was helpful to the electrocardiographic diagnosis of the atrial septal defect. The disappearance of the crochetage pattern after operation was correlated with shunt severity.
Adult ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography* ; Extremities* ; Fatigue ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans