Lidocaine and His bundle extrasystoles. His bundle discharge conducted with functional right of left bundle-branch block, or blocked entirely (concealed).

Abstract

In this patient, discharge from the bundle of His either conducted normally, conducted with functional right or functional left bundle-branch block, or blocked entirely (concealed), depending on the preceding cycle length and the coupling interval of the premature His bundle depolarization. The presence of both functional right and left bundle-branch block may have been attributable to differences in effective and functional refractory periods between the two bundle branches. Concealed His bundle extrasystoles mimicked first-degree, and types I and II second-degree AV block, according to the interval between His bundle discharge and the subsequent P wave. Lidocaine eliminated His bundle extrasystoles that blocked entirely (concealed) or conducted with functional left bundle-branch block by improving His-Purkinje conduction and by lengthening the coupling interval of the premature His bundle extrasystole. Lidocaine had no effect on AV nodal conduction time. This patient has been known to have concealed His bundle discharge for at least three years and has not required permanent pacemaker insertion.