ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION;

Background: Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause for complete heart block (CHB) and sudden death. Heartblocks may occur as complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and are associated with increased mortality. The aim of thisstudy is to determine the frequency of complete heart block (CHB) in acute myocardial infarction at a tertiary care hospital. Place andduration: This study was conducted in Cardiology Department of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences from 1st August2009 to 31st January 2010. Study Design: Cross sectional and descriptive study. Materials and Methods: ST segment elevation equal toor more than 1mm (0.1mv) in two of these leads II, III and aVF. Rise in serum creatinine kinase level (CPK Level) more than twice thenormal value along with CK-MB fraction more than 6% of CPK value. Patients with history of chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea,vomiting and unconsciousness were enrolled in the study. The cardiac enzymes tropinin T was also performed at bed side by venousblood sample. Results: Total of 87 patients were included, prevalence of heart blocks was 27.58%. Anterior wall MI was in 50(57.5%)patients. Of these, 13(54.2%) had complete heart block. Inferior wall MI was in 37(42.5%) cases, of these, 11(45.8%) were found withcomplete heart block. There was no significant difference between anterior wall MI and inferior wall MI with complete heart block (P value> 0.05). Mortality was 2.3% with anterior wall MI. Conclusions: Development of complete heart blocks has important prognosticsignificance. Complete heart block was frequent complication of myocardial infarction.