Prognostic significance of complete atrioventricular block in acute right ventricular infarction

Abstract

This study evaluates the morbidity and mortality, during hospitalimtion of 50 patients with acute right ventricular myocardial infarction who were admitted to coronary care unit of Mosul teaching hospital from 1996 — 1998. The patients were evaluated clinically, electrocardiographically, and by two dimensional echocardiography for the diagnosis of right ventricular infarction. The patients were followed up by continuous ECG monitoring for at least three days to detect rhythm and conduction disturbances. The patients were divided into three groups depending on presence or absence of complete heart block;
Group I; 15 patients with complete heart block.
Group II; 35 patients without complete heart block.
In this study patients in group I had significantly higher mortality rate than group II, 40% versus (p < 0.05). A third group (20) patients with inferior myocardial infarction and complete heart block without right ventricular infarction were evaluated, and the mortality rate was the same as in group II (p > 0.5).