Acute coronary syndromes focusing on left bundle branch block

Abstract 

There has been extensive coverage of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in recent years, yet heart blocks involving the right and left bundle branches have received little coverage, despite their frequent co-existence. This article will commence with an overview of the ACS with which LBBB is synonymous, discussion on the initial management of these patients, and progress into highlighting both the clinical signs and symptoms related to the pathophysiological changes associated with blocks involving the bundle branches, and the associated electrical changes that can be identified on an electrocardiogram (ECG). The overall intension of this article is to increase practitioners’ awareness and knowledge base surrounding this common clinical patient presentation and enhance clinical proficiency, thereby improving patient care and the management of patient’s experiencing LBBB.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndromes, Left bundle branch block, Right bundle branch block, Myocardial infarction, Thrombolysis