Evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with complete right bundle branch block with normal structural heart

Abstract

Background: The impact of a RBBB in cases with structural heart disease on cardiac function has been evaluated extensively. However, literature about the impact of an isolated complete RBBB without structural heart disease on cardiac function of the right ventricle is limited. Aim: To assess right ventricular function in patients with complete RBBB in normal structural heart patients Material and Methods: Hospital based observational study in 100 patients aged ? 18 years. Cases (50) consisted of patients with isolated complete right bundle branch blocks without structural heart disease while the control group consisted of 50 healthy adults. The diameter, end-diastolic area, end-systolic area, and right ventricular (RV) fractional area ,pulse wave tissue velocity at lateral tricuspid annulus ,TAPSE and E/A ratio were obtained to evaluate RV morphologic and systolic and diastolic function . Results : Although ,the measurements of RA area ,RV basal dimension , RV fractional area change ,TAPSE ,RIMP and S' at lateral tricuspid tissue annulus were in normal limits in block group but there was statistical significant difference in between the patients with blocks and controls(p <0.05 ) . The myocardial performance index (Tei index) of the lateral tricuspid tissue annulus was significantly increased. Chi square test and t test was applied to compare the same variable between the group and p value of ? .05 was considered statistically significant. Conclusions : In patients with isolated complete right bundle branch blocks, systolic and diastolic functions are impaired in the RV and follow-up is needed.