background: several echocardiographic markers have been introduced to assess the left ventricular (lv) mechanical dyssynchrony. we studied dyssynchrony markers and the latest lv activation site in heart failure patients with and without left bundle branch block (lbbb). methods: conventional echocardiography and tissue velocity imaging were performed for 78 patients (lv ejection fraction ≤ 35%),...

BACKGROUND Due to difficulties in diagnosing coronary ischemia in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB), identifying clinical characteristics that might help to predict coronary artery disease (CAD) is important. Our study aimed to identify clinical predictors of CAD among patients with and without LBBB who undergo myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). METHODS All patients with LBBB who...

AIMS To determine whether patients with congestive heart failure and true left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology have better response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) than do patients without true LBBB. METHODS AND RESULTS We defined true LBBB as conventional LBBB plus QRS duration ≥ 130 ms and mid-QRS notching/slurring in at least two of the leads I, aVL, V1, V2, V5, or V6. We ...

Results A total of 496 patients were included in the study; 216 (43.5%) had LBBB and a QRSd 150 ms, 85 (17.1%) had LBBB and QRSd 150 ms, 92 (18.5%) had non-LBBB and a QRSd 150 ms, and 103 (20.8%) had nonLBBB and QRSd 150 ms. Echocardiographic response (change in ejection fraction) was better in patients with LBBB and QRSd 150 ms (12 12%) than in those with LBBB and QRSd 150 ms (8 10%), non-LBBB...

BACKGROUND A left bundle branch block (LBBB) affects both global left ventricular (LV) function and mechanical dyssynchrony. The aim was to evaluate global LV function and mechanical dyssynchrony with real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE), in asymptomatic LBBB patients, healthy volunteers and patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) and a LBBB. Furthermore, the relation between presence or ...

The occurrence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) in electrocardiogram during exercise testing is a relatively rare finding. The incidence of LBBB during exercise testing ranges from 0.5% to 1.1%. The mechanism of exercise-induced LBBB (EI-LBBB) is poorly understood, but ischemia is a proposed etiology. Stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can be useful in patients with EI-LBBB to rule out...

BACKGROUND Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy depends both on dyssynchrony and (regional) contractility. We hypothesized that septal deformation can be used to infer integrated information on dyssynchrony and regional contractility, and thereby predict cardiac resynchronization therapy response. METHODS AND RESULTS In 132 cardiac resynchronization therapy candidates with left bundl...

BACKGROUND Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to decrease mortality in 60-70% of advanced heart failure patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and QRS duration > 120 ms. There have been intense efforts to find reproducible non-invasive parameters to predict CRT response. We hypothesized that different left ventricular contraction patterns may exist in LBBB patients wi...

BACKGROUND Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is common following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and has been linked to increased mortality, although whether this is related to less favourable cardiac reverse remodeling is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of TAVR induced LBBB on cardiac reverse remodeling. METHODS 48 patients undergoing TAVR for severe ...

BACKGROUND Several echocardiographic markers have been introduced to assess the left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony. We studied dyssynchrony markers and the latest LV activation site in heart failure patients with and without left bundle branch block (LBBB). METHODS Conventional echocardiography and tissue velocity imaging were performed for 78 patients (LV ejection fraction ≤ 35%),...