Impact of intraventricular conduction delay on coronary haemodynamics: a study with intracoronary Doppler in patients with bundle branch blocks and normal coronary arteries.

Aims: The impact of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left bundle branch block (LBBB) on myocardial perfusion is not completely understood as data are often blurred by underlying cardiac disease. The present study investigates whether conduction delays per se affect coronary perfusion-an indirect measure of myocardial oxygen demand.

Methods And Results: Intracoronary Doppler and ultrasound were performed in 8 patients with RBBB, 10 patients with LBBB, and 10 control subjects.

[Mitral valve prolapse: identification of high-risk patients and therapeutic management].

Mitral valve prolapse shows a wide spectrum from a benign anatomic variant to a progressive disease with severe cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography is the most important tool for diagnosis and risk stratification. Predictors for high risk are significant thickening of mitral leaflet of > 5 mm ("classic" prolapse), moderate to severe mitral regurgitation and reduced left ventricular function.