Open AccessLeft bundle‐branch block—pathophysiology, prognosis, and clinical management
Author(s) -
Francia Pietro,
Balla Cristina,
Paneni Francesco,
Volpe Massimo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.20034
Subject(s) - medicine , left bundle branch block , cardiology , disease , bundle branch block , intensive care medicine , heart failure , pathophysiology , clinical practice , electrocardiography , physical therapy
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.