CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS IN SURGICAL PATIENTS WITH BIFASCICULAR BLOCK 343 The Risk of Cardiac Complications in Surgical Patients with Bifascicular Block* A Clinical and Electrophysiologic Study in 98 Patients

Ninety-eight patients with ECG evidence of bifascicular block who had undergone general anesthesia and surgery have been followed up. His bundle electrogram was recorded in all patients prior to the surgery. On the basis of electrophysiologic studies, patients were classified in two groups: normal H-V group (47 patients) and prolonged H-V group (51 patients). The prolonged H-V group presented a significantly greater incidence of organic heart disease and cardiac symptoms. Correspondingly, there was a significantly higher incidence of cardiac intraand postoperative complications in patients with prolonged H-V interval, but none of the patients developed complete heart block. Venfricular fibrillation and not the occurrence of complete