Left bundle‐branch block—pathophysiology, prognosis, and clinical management

• Published in: Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 110 - 115
• Main Authors: Francia, Pietro, Balla, Cristina, Paneni, Francesco, Volpe, Massimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.03.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bundle-Branch Block - diagnosis; Bundle-Branch Block - epidemiology; Bundle-Branch Block - physiopathology; Bundle-Branch Block - therapy; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical Trials as Topic; electrocardiogram; Electrocardiography; Heart; history of medicine; Humans; left bundle‐branch block; Medical sciences; Prevalence; Prognosis; Review; Reviews; Risk Factors; Left; Prognosis; Arrhythmia; Pathophysiology; Pathogenesis; left bundle-branch block; Cardiovascular disease; Bundle branch block; History; Conduction disorder; Phlebology; Medicine; Electrodiagnosis; electrocardiogram; Clinical management; Heart block; Heart disease; Electrocardiography; Circulatory system; Cardiology; history of medicine
• ISSN: 0160-9289; 1932-8737
• DOI: 10.1002/clc.20034

Given its broad use as a screening tool, the electrocardiogram (ECG) has largely become one of the most common diagnostic tests performed in routine clinical practice. As a result, the finding of left bundle‐branch block (LBBB) in the absence of a well‐defined clinical setting has become relatively frequent and raises questions and often concerns. While in the absence of clinically detectable heart disease LBBB does not necessarily imply poor outcomes, physicians should be aware of the role of LBBB in stratifying risk of cardiovascular events and death in subjects with both ischemic and nonischemic heart disease. This paper reviews historical landmarks, pathophysiologic features, prognostic implications, and clinical management of LBBB in apparently healthy subjects and those with heart disease. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.