Implications of left bundle branch block in acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty

Among 945 patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty, those with left bundle branch block (n = 17) had larger infarctions and lower left ventricular ejection fraction, were older, more often had the left main artery as the infarct vessel, and had multivessel disease, cardiac failure, and cardiogenic shock at the beginning of the procedure more frequently. Patients with left bundle branch block had higher mortality (41 % vs. 11%, p = 0.002), a lower rate of angiographic success (71% vs 94%, p = 0.003), and Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3 flow (59% vs 85%, p = 0.011); however, left bundle branch block was not independently associated with higher mortality rate in the multivariate analysis.